336 H. H. NEWMAN. 



especially in the case of the anal, which is considerably longer 

 in the male. That of the female, as in the other species, is stiff 

 and swollen, but only in the basal two thirds. The dorsal of 

 the male is frequently colorless or nearly so, like that of the 

 female, but is often decidedly mottled with dark pigment after 

 the fashion seen in the male of F. heteroclitus, but much more 

 lightly. The chief mottling is found on the posterior rays, a 

 sort of prophecy of the very marked spots on this fin in other 

 species. The contact organs are similar in form and distribution 

 to those of F. heteroclitus. 



In general it might be said that this species shows the begin- 

 nings of sexual dimorphism in practically all of the points that 

 become so marked in other species, and probably represents a 

 primitive condition. 



I am sorry to be unable to present any facts regarding spawn- 

 ing behavior, but must plead as an excuse that this species, being 

 a fresh or brackish water form found in a large pond on Martha's 

 Vineyard, was inaccessible for observation in its natural haunts, 

 and could be transported to aquaria only with the greatest diffi- 

 culty. Moreover, when once they are transported and are safely 

 housed they die off very rapidly and the diligent collector receives 

 a poor reward for his labor. The species is not at all resistent 

 to adverse conditions as is F. heteroclitus or even F. majalis. 



The presence of a sexual dimorphism, the same in kind al- 

 though different in degree, from that in other species of the same 

 genus, lends probability to the belief that the spawing behavior 

 is similiar to that described above. 



CYPRINODON VARIEGATUS Lacepede. 



(Sheephead Minnow ; Purcy Minnow ; Short Minnow.) 



Spawning Behavior. 



The opportunity was not afforded me of observing the behavior 

 of this species in its native environment, but I was very fortunate 

 in being able to get fairly complete records of its spawning habits 

 by the use of aquaria. 



The following observations were made on July 20 : 

 A medium-sized aquarium was fitted up with stones Ulva, 

 FJICJIS, etc., to approximate natural conditions, and five male and 



