862 | FISHES—CYPRINIDA. 
its family in the State, as it takes the hook readily and energetically 
and it may be eaten when properly fried. The catching of this fish is 
the principal excitement of the average “summer boarder” at many 
places in the south and west. The male of this species, in the spring, 
has the head extravagantly covered with tubercles, hence the name 
‘“‘ Horny-head.” This species is less disposed to ascend small streams than 
the “‘ Horned Dace” (Semotilus corporalis), and is hence often called the 
River Chub, the other being the Creek Chub. A fisherman of Rock Castle 
River, in Kentucky, has told me that the young of this species makes the © 
best bait for the Black Bass, as “it will swim longer than any other 
with a hook in its body.” These are almost the identical words used by 
Rafinesque, concerning his still unidentified “Indian Chubb,” Luzilus 
kentucktensis. 
Genus 42. COUESIUS. Jordan. 
Couesius JORDAN, Bull. Hayden’s Geol. Surv. Terr., 1878. 
Type, Leucosomus dissimilis, Girard. 
Etymology, dedicated to Elliott Coues. 
Body elongate, mouth terminal, normal; a well developed barkel at the posterior 
end of the maxillary; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, hooked, without masticatory surface; scales 
- rather small; lateral line continuous; dersal fin over or slightly behind ventrals; anal 
basis short. This genus comprises four or five species, all of large size and northern 
distribution. They resemble the species ef Semotilus, but differ in dentition and in the 
position of the barbel. 
83. CovESIUS PROSTHEMIUS (Cope) Jordan. 
Lake Chub. 
Ceratichthys prosthemius, CopE, Trans. Am. Philos. Soc. Phila., 1866, 365.—JORDAN, Man. 
Vert., 2d Ed., 1868, 307. 
Ceratichthys plumbeus, GUNTHER, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., vii, 176 (probably not Gobio 
plumbeus, Ag. ). 
Description.—This fish is of the average size of Semotilus corporalis, but of a much 
more slender form; the outline is fusiform, the head being small, and the muzzle broad 
ang ayruptly descending ; back compressed medially ; first dorsal ray midway between 
thé oid of the muzzle and the origin of the caudal, considerably longer than the first 
ray of the anal, its base longer than the base of the anal; ventrals opposite the first ray 
of the dorsal, not reaehing to the vent; end of maxillary not reaching te oppesite the 
orbit ; mouth terminal, small; muzzle obtuse ; isthmus narrow ; barbels well developed 
head and upper part of body blackish; a plumbeous band above the Jateral line, white 
belew ; head 4; depth about 4; D.8; A. 8; scales 11-63-8; teeth 2, 4-4, 2. Length six 
er seven inches. 
Habitat, Great Lake region. 
