and the head is flesh color with lavender on the chin and orange 

 on the gill covers. The forehead is bluish black. There is a spot of 

 blue below the eye and a dark spot behind it. The spiny first dorsal 

 fin has two bands of indigo blue with an orange red band between 

 them and another orange band at the base of the fin. This band is 

 broken by red spots. The female is duller, with side bars of dark, 

 smoky blue. Its first dorsal fin has an edge of pale blue, below 

 which there is a straw colored band with a row of rust colored 

 spots. 



Size. About 50 mm. long. 



Habitat. The riffles of streams in the southern third of the 

 southern peninsula of Michigan and southward. 



Breeding Habits. The females are reported to deposit their eggs 

 in gravel in May. The brilliant breeding colors of the male persist 

 all summer. 



Food. Chironovius and mayfly larvae in nature, prepared foods 

 in the aquarium. 



Although lacking the grace of the other darters, this colorful 

 little fish has been carried around the world by aquarists. 



It should be given an aerated aquarium or placed in very shallow 

 water, for it requires a great deal of oxygen. 



[31] 



