FISHES OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 17 



body somewhat compressed, the long intestine wrapped around the 

 air bladder; adults 4-8 inches long. 

 Common in most of our streams. 



Intestines more than twice the length of body. 



27. Chrosonius erythrogaster Rafinesque. Red- 

 bellied Minnow. 



[Joid. Man. 89. O. St. Surv. 51.] 



Clear brownish olive with dark mottlings above; below this, 

 silvery with two black lateral stripes on the sides. This silvery 

 color takes a charge of bright scarlet on the males in the spring. 

 Scales minute, length about ,3 inches. In a well lighted aqua- 

 rium these fish will show their scarlet colors the year around; in 

 the winter they flush or grow pale very quickly when excited by 

 light, food, or fright. 



Of this fish Kirtland writes (1850): "During the months of 

 April and May every stream in northern Ohio swarms with this 

 species — they crowd up the riffles in immense numbers to spawn. 

 At that season the colors are very brilliant, but by midsummer they 

 fade so much that the carmine tints are lost and the black stripes 

 become a muddy brown. About the ist of July, this species, in 

 common with almost the Whole Minnow tribe, forsake the rivers 

 and descend into the lake." 



I have found them in but one stream. Spring Brook, where 

 they stay the year round. (See introduction.) 



28. Pimepliales pronielas Rafinesque. Blackhead. 



[Jord. Man. 93. O. St. Surv. 53.] 



Body short and deep, head short and blunt, lateral line incom- 

 plete., intestines long (more than twice the length of body). Oliva- 

 ceous, adults dusky with black heads; about 2^^ inches long. 



Not common, but found in most of the streams. 



29. Piiuephales notatus (Rafinesque). Blunt-nosed 

 Minnow. 



[Jord. Man. 94. O. St. Surv. 60.] 

 Body compressed, elongated, head long, scales before dorsal 

 fin crowded, about 2j; intestines long, color dusty yellow, sides 

 bluish, a black spot on front of dorsal and base of caudal fin. Length 

 4 inches. 



Very abundant in all small streams. 



