MINNOW ' dans. No attempt has been made to civilize or Christianize them beyond occasional visits of Koman Catholic missionaries. An account of the tribe and its language is given in Wash- ington Matthews's " Grammar and Dictionary of the Hidatsa" (New York, 1873); see also " Hidatsa (Minnetaree)-English Dictionary " (New York, 1874). MINNOW, the common name of many small cyprinodont fishes, of the genera fundulus (Lac6p.) and hydrargyra (Lacep.). In fundu- lus the upper surface of the head is flattened ; fine card-like teeth upon the jaws, and short ones on the posterior part of the hyoid arch, with opposite velvet-like patches on the roof of the mouth ; no teeth on palate or vomer ; branchial rays five; dorsal opposite the anal, and caudal rounded ; upper surface and sides of head covered with scales. The common minnow, or "cobbler" of the young smelt fishers (F. pisculentus, Cuv. and Val.), is from 1 to 5 in. long ; the females are of a uniform brown color ; the males with lighter intervals on the sides arranged like transverse bands, the dorsal and anal with black dots, and anal slightly emarginated posteriorly, mouth pro- tractile, and upward when closed. It abounds about the salt marshes of the northern and middle states, and is caught in large numbers in hand nets, as bait for other fish, particularly MINORCA 613 Minnow (Fondulus pisculentus). smelts. The yellow-bellied minnow (hydrar- gyra flavula, Storer) is from 1 to 5 in. long; the female is yellowish green above, lighter on the sides, and white beneath, with from one to five longitudinal interrupted black bands extending along the sides from the gill covers to near the tail, where there are three or more indistinct transverse bands. In this genus the head is more flattened, and the branchial rays are six. It is found in southern New England and New York. The cyprinoid black-nosed dace (argyreus atronasus, Heck.) is sometimes called brook minnow. The British minnow or minim (leuciscus phoxinus, Cuv.) rarely exceeds 3 in. in length; it is generally found in the same streams with trout, swimming in shoals. MINO BIRD (gracula religiosa, Linn.), a coni- rostral bird of the starling family and subfami- ly graculincB. In this genus the bill is as long as the head, broad at the base and strong, with the culmen curved, sides compressed and near- ly straight, and tip slightly notched ; nostrils partially covered by the frontal plumes ; wings long, with the first quill rudimental, and the second shorter than the third and fourth, which are longest ; tail short and nearly even ; tarsi shorter than the middle toe, stout, and covered with strong scales ; toes long, the outer the longest, and the hind one very long and strong ; claws curved and robust; some parts of the head are naked or carunculated. This species, the best known of the genus, is about 10 in. long, of which the tail is 3, and the expanse of wings 19 in.; the body is round and plump; Mino Bird (Gracula religiosa). the color is velvet black, with green, blue, and purple reflections; on the wings is a white speculum ; the bill, feet, and caruncles behind the eyes, yellow. It is found in Java, Sumatra, and other islands of the East Indian archipela- go, inhabiting the jungles, where it is seen in pairs or small parties in the tops of lofty trees, searching for fruits, berries, and insects. It is easily domesticated, and becomes very familiar ; it soon learns to whistle, sing, and talk, imi- tating the human voice, according to Latham, more nearly than any other bird ; it is fre- quently kept as a cage bird in the East Indies, and sometimes in Europe and in this country, where as much as $100 has been paid for a single bird. Another species, with similar hab- its, is the musical grakle (G. musica, Temm.), found also in the East Indies. MINORCA (Span. Menorca ; anc. Balearis Minor), the second in size of the Balearic isl- ands, lying 24 m. E. N. E. of Majorca, about 125 m. S. E. of Barcelona, between lat. 39 47' and 40 5' N., and Ion. 3 50' and 4 23' E. ; greatest length 33 m., greatest breadth 13 m. ; area, 283 sq. m. ; pop. about 45,000. The coast is indented on every side with small bays, sev- eral of which form excellent harbors. The surface is rugged, and rises gradually toward the centre, where it attains in Monte Toro an elevation of nearly 5,000 ft. The climate is very hot in summer and cold in winter, and the soil is rather sterile. Iron, lead, copper, and marble are found. The inhabitants are almost entirely engaged in agriculture, fishing, and commerce. Minorca is of great commer- cial importance in the Mediterranean trade, and the capital, Port Mahon, has an excellent har- bor. During the greater part of the 18th cen- tury Minorca belonged to the British, who ceded it to Spain at the peace of Amiens (1802). (See BA>LEAKIO ISLANDS.)
Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/631
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