FISHES OF MINNESOTA 35 



Notropis blennlus (Girard). Straw-colored Minnow. 



Body little compressed, rather stout, head rather broad and 

 rounded; mouth small, inferior, horizontal; 15 scales before the 

 dorsal fin; dorsal low, its longest ray | the head. Color pale oliva- 

 ceous, usually a dark dorsal band and a small dark spot in front 

 of the dorsal fin. No caudal spot. Fins unmarked. Head 4. 

 Depth 5. Eye 3. Scales 5-32 to 38-4, averaging 36 in the lateral 

 line. Teeth 4-4. A small fish, 2 to 2^ inches in length. 



Common in all the streams and lakes. Specimens have been 

 taken in great abundance in all places where collecting has been 

 done. If any more abundant in one place than in another it is in 

 the northern part of the state. 



Notropis hudsonlus (De Witt Clinton). Spawn-eater. Spot-tailed Minnow. 

 Shiner. 



A distinct black spot at the base of the caudal; a silvery band 

 on the sides ; general color varying from yellowish to quite dusky, 

 the nature of the water seeming to determine, to some extent, the 

 color of this minnow. Body rather stout, snout blunt amd decurved; 

 length of the snout less than the large eye; mouth horizontal, jaws 

 equal; 18 scales in front of dorsal fin; lateral line nearly straight 

 except just back of the head where it is somewhat decurved. Pec- 

 toral fins not extending to the ventrals, ventrals not reaching the 

 vent. Head 4|. Depth 4. Eye 3. Dorsal 8. Scales 5-39-4. 

 Teeth 1, 4-4, or 1 or 2. Length 4 to 6 inches. Quite common in 

 Minnesota, but a small fish, often a very great difference in color. 

 A fish which is now considered to be this species was described as 

 Notropis scopifer by Eigenmann & Eigenmann, Amer. Naturalist, 

 Feb., XVII., 153, 1893, from Winnipeg. It is quite common in this 

 state, specimens having been taken from many places on the Upper 

 Mississippi; both lakes and streams (Nat. Hist. Surv., 1892-3-5); in 

 the Bed Eiver and tributaries (Woolman, 1892, Report U. S. Fish 

 Comm., 1893); Upper Minnesota Biver and Big Stone Lake (Wool- 

 man & Cox, 1892); streams and lakes in the vicinity of Mankato 

 and southwest (Cox, 1894). Specimens taken from a creek flowing 

 into Lake Washington, near Mankato, are very different. Their 

 color is very dark; no yellow present. In appearance they seem 

 to be a different fish, but structurally they are, no doubt, the same. 



STotropis hudsonlus selene (Jordan). 



This variety differs from the typical N. hudsonius by having a 

 shorter head, 4 4-5 ; a more oblique mouth; the maxillary reaching 

 the eye; snopt 3-5 the eye. Teeth 2, 4-4, 2 or 1. It is referred to in 



