286 FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



lections coming from the former situation and 90 per cent, from the 

 latter. 



It is further reported from Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri ta 

 Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. 



Consistently with the relatively large size of this species, larvae 

 and pupae of May-flies were found by us to predominate in its food, 

 including one of the largest larvse of this family (Hexagenia) in our 

 streams. Larvas of dragon-flies, a small percentage of Chironomus 

 larvae, and water-bugs {Corixa), were the other elements of its food. 



Females greatly distended with eggs were taken by us June 

 5, 1901. 



Fig. 68 



HADROPTERUS ASPRO (Cope & Jordan) 

 (black-sided darter) 



Kirtland, 1839, Journ. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 340 (Etheostoma blennioides) . 



Cope & Jordan, 1877, Proc. Ac. Xat. Sci. Phila., 51 (Alvordius aspro — substitute- 

 for Etheostoma blennioides of Kirtland, the name ble)uiio!dcs being preoccu- 

 pied in Diplesion) . 



J. & G., 501 (Alvordius): M. V.. 127 (Etheostoma); B., I, 59 (Percina) ; J. & E., I, 

 1032; N., 35 (Etheostoma blennioides); J. 39 (Alvordius maculatus); F., 65; 



L., 27. 



Length 3 to 4 inches; body elongate, fusiform, somewhat compressed, 

 less cylindrical than m. Percina; one of the most graceful and elegant in 

 form and color of all the darters; depth 5.4 to 6.8 in length; greatest 

 width of body about f of its greatest depth; depth of caudal peduncle 

 2 . 5 to 3 .3 in its length. Color of midsummer females and immature 

 males yellowish olive or straw, with dark blotches and mottlings; back 

 with about 8 quadrate spots, between which, on upper portion of sides, 

 are dark, longitudinally disposed marblings; a row of 7 or 8 large dark 

 blotches along middle of side, more or less confluent, and sometimes 

 forming a continuous moniliform band, their color dark bluish olive to 

 bluish black; belly grayish in front, darkened with smoky blue poste- 

 riorly ; head dark olive, with a darker streak before eve, and one below 



