356 NEW YORK STATE MUSBIUM 



Some large examples (3^ inches long) of the Potomac river 

 silverside no. 43125, U. S. National Museum, collected by W. P. 

 Seal, apparently in 1890, agree very well with the description 

 of b e r y 1 1 i n a and also with the characters of Dr Smith's 

 specimens. It is probable that Cope's name must be associated 

 with this fresh-water form, and not the name gracilis of 

 Giinther. None of our individuals have four dorsal spines, and 

 there is no certainty that Dr Gunther's type came from the 

 United States. I have, however, followed Drs Jordan and 

 Evermann in their identification. 



The species is said to range from Woods Hole Mass. to Albe- 

 marle sound. 



179 Menidia heryllina (Cope) 



Fresh-ivater Silversides 



Chirostoma herylllnum Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 403, 1866, Potomac River, 



at Washington, D. C. 

 Menidia beryllina^JojiDAT^ & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 408, 1883; 



Bean, Fishes Penna. 100, 1893; 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 102, 



1900. 

 Menidia gracilis heryllina Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 



797, 1896, pi. CXXIV, fig. 338, 1900. 



The body is shorter than usual among the silversides. The 

 spinous dorsal is well separated from the soft dorsal, and its 

 posterior margin extends almost to the vertical from the first 

 anal rav- The ventral reaches to below the first rav of the 

 dorsal. The length of the head is contained four and one fourth 

 times in the total length without caudal. The eye large, orbit 

 one third as long as the head; mouth small; the mandible 

 slightly longer than the maxilla and slightly curved; greatest 

 depth of body one sixth of total length without caudal. Scales 

 in lateral line 36, transverse series 10. The lateral line is repre- 

 sented by a pore on the anterior part of the exposed portion 

 of each scale, except on the caudal peduncle, where it runs 

 through a groove. D. V-1, 11; A. 1, 18; V. I, 5; P. 15. The caudal 

 is deeply forked. 



Pale olivaceous in color with a silvery lateral band, on two 

 and one half rows of scales, with a lead colored margin. The 

 anal base is lead colored; sides of the head silvery. 



