EEBORT UPON THE FISHES OF KENTUCKY. 
281 
35. Etheostoma aspro (Cope and Jordan). Black-sided darter. Goose and Big creeks, Middle Fork, 
and Troublesome Creek, very rare; only one specimen taken in each of the three streams 
first mentioned. 
36. Etheostoma zonale (Cope). Taken in every stream except Hector, Troublesome, and Left Trouble- 
some creeks, and very abundant in several of 'them. About 280 specimens were taken in one 
ripple of Middle Fork. Generally common wherever found. 
37. Etheostoma flabellare (Eafinesque). Goose and Hector creeks, Eedbird, Middle Fork, Cutshin, 
Troublesome, and Left Troublesome creeks. Abundant only in Middle Fork, where 25 or 30 
young specimens were taken. 
38. Etheostoma cceruleum (Storer). Rainbow darter. Taken in all the streams except Horse and 
Goose creeks. Common where found. 
BIG SANDY RIVER. 
Eight miles east of Hindman, beyond the ridge that divides the Kentucky Kiver 
system from that of the Big Sandy, a difference in the character of the country and 
of the streams is quite noticeable. The valleys grow wider, giving room for good 
farm lands between the hills. The soil produces good crops of corn and vegetables. 
Pastures of timothy and clover, which were not seen throughout the mountainous 
part of Kentucky, were here quite common. Fruits, apples especially, do well; many 
very large trees, apparently of great age, being still in bearing condition. The head- 
waters of the streams have much the same character as those of the Kentucky River, 
being rocky and swift; but as the valley widens the sand increases in the bed of the 
streams and the alluvial banks grow higher. Throughout their lower courses the 
water is less rapid and forms deeper ponds or pools. 
1. Bight Fork of Beaver Creek , Lackey, August 29; water temperature, 68° F. 
Beaver Creek is one of the largest western tributaries of the West or (Levisa) Fork ot 
of the Big Sandy River. It is about 75 or 80 miles long, and is navigable for 10 or 
more miles. Lackey is near the middle of its course, and at that place the stream is 
30 or more yards in width, with an average depth between the ripples of about 4 feet. 
The course of the stream is interrupted by frequent ripples, having a depth of only a 
few inches. The bed is of sand, with rock or mud at intervals. A few crayfishes were 
taken, but no water plants, except mint, were found in the stream. The creek was 
well stocked with fishes, the soft-rayed species being most abundant. Suckers ( Mox - 
ostoma duquesnei), sunfish, and bass were the most common food species. The suckers 
were especially abundant, and minnows and darters were also common. 
2. Shelby Creek , Robinson, August 30 ; water temperature, 70° F. Shelby Creek 
is a small tributary of Robinson Creek, about 6 miles long, and is shallow and rocky 
throughout its entire length, except for about half a mile in its lower course, where 
the bed is of sand. Collections were made near its mouth. 
3. Robinson Creek , Robinson, August 30; water temperature, 68° F. Robinson 
Creek is a stream of considerable importance, being about 40 miles long and 25 or 30 
yards wide, with a depth of 2 to 5 feet at the place where it was visited. The bed is 
of rock and sand, the former occurring most frequently. The valley of the stream is 
narrow and the current quite swift. Collections were made at the mouth of Shelby 
Creek, on a long, deep ripple. Twenty-one species in all were obtained. Quillback 
( Carpiodes velifer ), two or three species of Notropis , and Etheostoma variatum were 
quite common. 
