852 FISHES—CYPRINIDZ. 
inserted about midway between ventrals and anal; pectorals not reaching ventrals, the 
latter to the vent; caudal fin long; coloration dark steel-biue above, pale or silvery 
below, the males often showing traces of 8 to 10 cross-bars; a conspicuous spot at the 
base of the dorsal in front, the fins otherwise all plain; males with the anterior dorsal) 
region and the head profusely covered with small whitish tubercles, the belly and lower 
fins being of a bright brick red in spring ; females very pale olive, sometimes colorless ; 
head 43; depth 43; D.7; A. 11; 9-47-3; teeth 2, 44, 2, Length 34 inches. 
Diagnosis.—The Red-fin may be known from all the other minnows of 
similar appearance by the presence of a black spot at the base of the dor- 
sal, in front. The only other species similarly marked, Semotalus corpor- 
alis, has a larger head, and a short anal fin of 7 or 8 rays. 
Habits.—This species is very abundant throughout Ohio, especially in 
the southern part of the State. It is especially fond of small, clear 
streams. The male fish in the spring is one of the most brilliant of our 
fishes, being sometimes almost violet colored, and later of a fine brick- 
red. The female is usually very pale, with a delicate purplish luster. 
GENUS 35. LUXILUS. Rafinesque. 
Luxitus, RAFINESQUE, Ich, Oh., 1820, 47. 
Hypsolepis, BAIRD, Mss., AGASSIZ Am. Joura. Sci. Aris, 1854, 359. 
Alburnops, GIRARD, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei. Phila., 1856, 194. 
Plargyrus (Raf.), GERARD, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1856, 195. 
Hydrophlox, JORDAN, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 1878, 292. 
Type, Luxilus chrysocephalus, Rafinesque ; Cyprinus cornutus, Mitch. — 
Etymology, Latin, lux. hight, in allusion to the vernacular name shiner. 
Body oblong, more or less compressed; mouth normal; no barbels; teeth 2,4- 
4, 2, hooked, with masticatory surface ; intestina} canal short; scales large, more or 
less closely imbricated along the sides of the body, so that the exposed surfaces are 
higher than long; lateral line continuous, decurved; dorsal over or slightly behind 
ventrals; anal fin short; breeding coloration usually very brilliant; the male flushed 
with red, and with the snout tuberculate. As here understood, this is a large genus, 
including a considerable number of species, most of them Southern in their distribution. 
There are three well-marked subgenera: Luaztlua proper, including large species, with | 
the scales very closely imbricated, and much deeper than long; the dorsal over the 
ventrals and the jaws even; type L. cornutus. 
Coccotis, Jor., including rather large species, with the scales less elosely imbricated, 
but still deeper than long; dorsal behind ventrals and lower jaw projecting ; typer EB. 
coecogenis. 
Alburnops, Grd. ( yl ohtoe), ariel species with the seales normal; the jaws equal 
and the dorsal somewhat behind the ventrals. These fishes resemble certain species of 
Hudsonius, but the males are brilliantly colored. Type, L. blennius. fe 
Only L.cornutus, the largest and best known of the species of the genus has been 
observed in Ohio. 
