324 REPORT OF THE 



Body elongate, considerably compressed in the adult ; head rather short ; snout 

 short, blunt, and decurved, shorter than the rather large eye ; mouth moderate, 

 nearly horizontal, the jaws about equal, the maxillary almost reaching the eye ; 

 lateral line nearly straight, slightly decurved anteriorly ; pectoral fin not reaching 

 the ventrals, the latter not reaching the vent. 



Color, silvery, usually with a black or dusky spot at base of caudal fin, especially 

 in the young. 



In Lake Superior and elsewhere in the western portion of its range, this species 

 has the head shorter, the maxillary longer, the mouth more oblique, and always with 

 a jet-black caudal spot. This form has been recognized as the subspecies Notropis 

 hiidsonms sclcnc (Jordan). The form in the Delaware, Potomac, and other coastal 

 streams of the Middle States, has the head longer and less obtuse, the eye smaller, 

 and the caudal spot faint or wanting. This form is recognized in the books as 

 Notropis liudsoniiis ainarns (Girard), but probably should be regarded as a distinct 

 species. 



In the coastwise streams from the James southward to the Ocmulgee, the repre- 

 sentative of this species has the head still longer, the snout much longer, and the 

 mouth more inferior. This form is recognized as Notropis Juidsonius saludanus 

 (Jordan & Brayton). 



\3ilver--fin —Notropis whipplii (Girard). 



The Silver-fin, Satin-fin, or Blue Minnow, as it is variously called, is found from 

 central New York west to Minnesota and south to Arkansas and Alabama. It occurs 

 in Cayuga Lake, and the writer has collected it in the St. Lawrence River and in 

 Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Chautauqua, in all of which it is fairly abundant. It is, 

 preferably, a fish of the larger, clearer creeks and rivers, delighting in the rush and 

 swirl of the waters on the riffles, where it feeds upon the insect larvae and small 

 crustaceans which it finds among the stones or adhering to the potamogetons and 

 other water plants which grow in such places. It is a trim, active minnow, and one 

 of the most handsome of the family. Like most other minnows that are used at 

 all for bait, various vernacular names have been applied to it. The three already 

 mentioned are perhaps the ones most frequently heard, but " shiner," " blue-back," 

 " flat minnow " and " horny-head " are names which one sometimes hears, the last 

 being applied to spring males. 



This fish reaches a length of about four inches and is, in many places, regarded 

 as a good bait minnow. It is very active when on the hook, which, with its bright 

 silvery coloration, should make it attractive to Black Bass, It lives well in the live- 

 box, minnow bucket, and on the hook. 



