FISHES-CYPRINIDAE—PLARGYRUS BOWMANI. 
263 
The color is reddish brown or fulvous, lighter beneath than above ; the middle of the flanks 
being silvery. The fins are light yellowish olive, unicolor. 
References to the figures .—Plate LVII, fig. 5, represents Alburnops illecebrosus , size of life. 
Fig. 6 is a scale from the dorsal region. Fig. 7, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 8, a scale 
from the abdominal region. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Cor. No. 
of teeth. 
No. of 
spec. 
Age. 
Locality. 
When 
collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of 
specimen. 
Collected by— 
66 
2673 
24 
Adt. & 
young. 
Arkansas river, near 
Fort Smith. 
1853 
Lt. A. W. Whipple . 
Alcoholic . 
Dr. Geo. G. Shumard. 
PLARGYRUS, Rafin. 
Gen.Char. —Head large and sub-conical; mouth rather large, terminal; gape more or less oblique upwards. Jaws equal. Eyes 
large. Isthmus quite narrow. Tail tapering. Caudal fin furcated. The insertion of the ventrals is situated opposite the ante¬ 
rior margin of the dorsal fin, or a little behind it. Dorsal and anal fins without strong and undivided rays anteriorly. Scales 
very large, imbricated, much higher than long. Lateral line forming a downwards curve beneath the middle of the flanks. 
Pharyngeal bones rather slender, with an angular expansion at the upper portion of the descending branch, the expansion itself 
tapering away towards the upper and inner extremity. The teeth are compressed, of the prehensile kind, of the hooked type, 
very slightly hooked, provided with a grinding surface, being disposed upon a double row as follows : 2 | 4—4 | 2. 
Syn. — Plargyrus, Rafin. Ichth. Ohiens. 1820, 50.—Grd. in Proc Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 195. 
Hypsolepis, Baird (MS.)— Grd. in Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass, in Mem. Amer. Acad. New S. V, 1855, 284. 
The genus Plargyrus includes the prettiest species of American Cyprinoids. Their compara¬ 
tively small size, compressed and graceful body, sub-fusiform in its profile, added to brilliant 
and vivid colors, have brought these fishes to the notice of the multitude. They are commonly 
known as “Red Dace,” “Silver-side Fall-fish,” “White and Yellow Winged Shiner,” 
“ Shiner,” &c. They occur in the waters of the Mississippi basin, as well as in the eastern, 
northern, and southern States. 
The teeth of this genus are figured by Heckel, under the name of Argyreus rubripinnis, the 
second species of his genus Argyreus, and which is nothing else but Plargyrus cornutus in a 
breeding dress. 
PLARGYRUS BOWMANI, Grd. 
late LIX, Figs. 1 — 5. 
Spec. Char. —Head constituting about the fifth of the total length. Posterior extremity of maxillar bone corresponding to a 
vertical line drawn behind the nostrils. Diameter of eye entering three times and a half in the length of the side of the head. 
Anterior margin of dorsal fin equidistant between the extremity of the snout and the insertion of the caudal. Origin of ventrals 
situated opposite the anterior margin of the dorsal, therefore equidistant also between the snout and the base of the caudal; their 
tips reaching the vent. Dorsal fin higher and anal deeper than long. Reddish brown above, yellowish beneath, with the sides 
silvery. A black streak along the flanks, above the lateral line. 
Syn. — Plargyrus bowmani, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 196. 
We inscribe this species to the memory of one who, under difficulties of various sorts, during 
a travel across the continent, thought it not of small importance to collect and preserve specimens 
of natural history, which he forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution. 
