120 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[56.] 5. Cyprinus (Catastomus) nigricans. (Le Sueur.) Black 



Sucking- Carp. 



Catastomus nigricans. Le Sueur, Journ. Ac. Sc. Phil., i., p. 103. An. 1817. 



This species is, like the preceding one, an inhabitant of Lake Erie, where it is 

 known to the fishermen by the names of " Shoemaker," and " Black Sucker." 

 M. Le Sueur gives the following description of it, 



" Head large, quadrangular ; anal fin straight, its extremity reaching to the base of the 

 caudal ; eyes oblong ; the lateral line straight, below the level of the eye." " Body sub- 

 quadrangular near the head ; tail straight, short ; caudal fin forked with pointed lobes ; 

 dorsal quadrangular and small ; scales roundish ; colour of the back blackish, of the sides and 

 abdomen reddish-yellow, with dusky blotches ; pectoral, abdominal, and anal fins reddish ; 

 caudal and dorsal dashed with black. Length of specimen thirteen inches. 



« Fins.— P. 18; D. 11 ; V. 9; A. 8; C. 18." Le Sueur, I. c. 



[57.] 1. Cyprinus (Leuciscus) gracilis. (Richardson.) Saskat- 

 chewan Dace. 



Family, Cyprinoideae. Genus, Cyprinus. Sub-genus, Leuciscus. Cuvier. 

 No-natcheegaes. Cree Indians. 



Plate 78. 



The Leucisci, or Daces, have a short dorsal and anal, are destitute of spinous 

 rays or barbels, and exhibit nothing peculiar in the structure of their lips. The 

 species which we have figured abounds in that part of the Saskatchewan which 

 flows through the prairie district, and is taken at Carlton-house in nets during the 

 summer. It is but an indifferent article of food. Our specimen having been sub- 

 mitted to the inspection of Baron Cuvier, was returned with the following note 

 attached to it : " Espece particuliere de Cyprin voisin de notre Cyprinus micro- 

 cephalus." 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a specimen taken in the Saskatchewan, April, 1827. 



Form. — Profile approaching to fusiform, most gibbous between the head and dorsal fin : 

 belly flatter. Head small, crown broad and flat, muzzle rounded. The length of the head is 

 contained five times in the total length from the snout to the tips of the central caudal rays. 

 In the dried specimen lines or sutures can be observed on the top of the cranium, dividing it 



