49. CYPRINODONTID.E - FUNDULUS. 331 



little shorter than snout; olivaceous, silvery below. Head 3; depth 

 2. D. 11; A. 10; scales 25-10. "America." (Giinther.) 

 (Giiuther, vi, 306.) 



15. FUrVDli:LtJS Lac6pede. 



Killifislies. 

 (Hydrargyra Lace~pede: Xenisma Jordan.) 



(Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. v, 37, 1803 : type Fundulus mudfish Lace"pede = Colitis 

 heteroclita L. ) 



Body rather elongate, little elevated, compressed behind. Mouth 

 moderate. Jaws, each with two or more series of pointed teeth, usually 

 forming a narrow band. Bones of the maudiule firmly united. Scales 

 moderate. Branchiostegals 4-G. Preopercle, preorbital, and mandi- 

 ble with mucous pores. Dorsal and anal fins similar, moderately devel- 

 oped or rather large, the dorsal usually inserted in front of the anal. 

 Ventrals well developed. Air-bladder present. Sexes differing in 

 color, size, and development of the fins, the anal fin in the male nor- 

 mal. Intestinal canal short. Species very numerous, mostly Ameri- 

 can, inhabiting fresh waters and arms of the sea. They are the largest 

 in size of the Cyprinodonts, and some of them are very brightly colored. 

 (Latin fundus, bottom, the supposed abode of the "Fundulus mudfish.") 



The species may be divided as follpws: 



* Dorsal fin beginning in advance of anal. 

 t Branchiostegals 6. (HYDRARGYRA Lace"p&de.) 



a. Males with dark cross-bars and a black dorsal spot ; females with longitudinal 

 stripes ........................................ majalis, swampinus. 



aa. Males and females with dark cross-bars ............ ............ similis, zebra. 



aaa. Males without sharp markings, the scales rough in spring ; females plain. 



parmpinnis. 

 tt Branchiostegals 5. (FuNDULL'S.) 



b. Dorsal long, its rays 16 or 17 ; body with round black spots, at least in the 

 male ................................................... seminolis. 



bb. Dorsal moderate, its rays 10-14. 

 c. Scales rather small, 40 or more in a longitudinal series. 



d. Cross-bars if present, black ...................... diaplianus, confluenius. 



dd. Cross-bars silvery. 



e. Teeth small, in a band ...................................... menona. 



ee. Teeth in about two series, the outer enlarged ................. adinia. 



cc. Scales large, less than 40 in a longitudinal series. 



/. Males with 9 or 10 silvery cross-bars ; females with black bars ; fins 

 plain .............................................. nigrofasciatus. 



ff. Males with silvery spots and bars ; females nearly plain olivaceous, 

 or barred with black ................................. heteroclitus. 



** Dorsal fin beginning above or slightly behind anal; fins high. (XENISMA Jor.) 



(j. Branchiostegals 5 ; spots in regular series ............... catenatus. 



gg. Brauchiostegals 4 ; spots irregular ...................... stdlifer. 



