218 • NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



The dorsal fin placed far back, quadrate, longer than its base, of eleven subequal rays, 

 and placed over the anal. Pectorals obtusely pointed, 0"6 long, and containing seventeen 

 very slender rays. Ventrals feeble, distant, and nearly in the centre of the body. Anal 0"5 

 long, composed of eleven rays, of which the middle are longest. Caudal fin broad and short, 

 slightly rounded, and with its numerous accessories comprising twenty-nine rays. 



Color. Olive-green above ; lighter on the sides, and becoming whitish, tinged with yellow- 

 ish, on the abdomen. Opercles, pectorals and ventrals light greenish yellow. Irides yellow. 



Length, 3"0 - 5"0. Depth, 0*4 - l'O. 

 Fin rays, D. 1 1 ; P. 17 ; V. 6 ; A. 1 1 ; C. 29. 



I cite but one synonime, although I am inclined to suspect that this may be the fish intended 

 by Dr. Mitchill as Esox pisciculus ; but his description is not sufficiently precise to enable 

 me to pronounce it to be the same with any certainty. M. Valenciennes, apud Humboldt, 

 supposes this pisciculus to be the adult of his Fundulus fasciatus. 



This fish is known under the names of Minny (minnow), and more generally of Big Killie. 

 It abounds in the salt-water creeks and brackish streams in the neighborhood of New-York. 



THE BARRED KILLIFISH. 



Fundulus zebra. 

 (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Characteristics. Fifteen to twenty narrow vertical lines over the body. Dorsal and anal 

 punctate with white. Length 2-4 inches. 



Description. Body oblong, compressed ; dorsal outline, anterior to the fin, forms a slight 

 curve, gently sloping to the snout. Scales rounded, and sparsely ciliate on the free margins ; 

 radical margin straight, with parallel striae ; scales large on the head and opercles, extending 

 far up on the base of the caudal fin. Lateral line not obvious. Summit of the head broad 

 and flat. A short series of mucous pores anterior to the eyes. Mouth with a somewhat ver- 

 tical aspect. Jaws protractile, furnished with a series of distant recurved teeth ; and behind 

 this, others smaller and crowded. Pharynx with stout teeth. 



The dorsal fin quadrate, over the anal, with its posterior ray longest. Pectorals small, 

 scarcely pointed, with the middle rays longest. Ventrals feeble. Anal fin very high, the pe- 

 nultimate rays extending nearly to the accessory rays of the caudal. This latter fin rounded, 

 almost pointed. 



Color. Body brownish green, with numerous narrow white lines or spots (forming inter- 

 rupted lines), dividing the dark colored sides of the body into many dark colored bars. With 

 these are numerous silvery white and steel-blue dots, giving a singularly beautiful and striped 

 appearance to the fish ; these dots extend over the dorsal and anal fins. 



