704 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



rays, 14; anal rays, 13. Rare northward. Perhaps same as 

 preceding. 



" This species has also been met with, but very rarely. North- 

 ward and to the south they are more frequently seen." 



Family GASTZROSTEID^E. 



Sticklebacks. 



Head long, but no tubular snout ; teeth sharp, in a narrow band, 

 none on vomers ; premaxillaries protractile ; suborbital plate large ; 

 branchiostegals three ; no true scales, only bony plates ; dorsal with 

 two or more spines ; anal and ventral fins with spine ; build nest for 

 young, which is defended by male. Destroy eggs and fry of other 

 fishes. 



GASTBROSTBUS, L. 



(Pygosteus, Brev.) 



G. pungitius, L. (occidentalis, dekayi.) Nine-spined (Many-spined) 

 Stickleback. 



Olivaceous above, punctate and barred ; silvery below ; body 

 slender, compressed, tapering to slender, keeled tail ; skeletal 

 plates not all covered by skin ; snout blunt ; anal spine larger 

 than dorsal. Anal rays, 8 ; length, 3 inches. 



" Not an uncommon species in the streams of the State flowing 

 into salt water. The writer has met with them at Trenton." 

 [C. C. A.] The following note concerns a variety of this species : 



"Pygosteus dekayi. 



" Not an uncommon species, resembling in habits the above " 

 (G. pungitius). 



G. biaculeatus, Shaw. Two-(Three)-spined Stickleback. 



Body mailed ; tail naked, not keeled ; male blackish in spring, 

 with coppery luster ; body short and deep. Soft rays of dorsal, 

 1 2 ; of anal, 9. Northern ; probably a variety of next. 



" This is a common species about Toms River, and is found 

 in the Delaware River at Philadelphia." 



