522 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [DeC, 



6, i; scales 34 to 40, usually 36 to 39 + usually 2, occasionally 

 3, rarely 1 ; 6 scales above 1. 1. ; usually 4 scales, occasionally 5, below 

 1. 1.; 14 to 18 predorsal scales; snout 3|- to 4 in head; eye 3 to 4; 

 maxillary 3|- to 4^; interorbital 2f to 3; teeth 4-4. Body compressed, 

 somewhat slender. Head short, blunt. Snout blunt, broad, convex. 

 Eye small. Mouth small. Maxillary not quite to eye. Preorbital 

 moderate, width about 2 its length. Rakers 4 + 7? short weak points, 

 tips sometimes bifurcate. L. 1. median. Dorsal origin little nearer 

 snout tip than caudal base. Caudal rather broad, forked, lobes pointed. 

 Pectoral about f to ventral, latter inserted about opposite dorsal origin 

 and f to anal. Color largely silvery, pale olive above. Fins pale. 

 Iris silvery. Length 2yV to 4f inches. Many examples from the 

 Delaware R. at Holmesburg (Philadelphia Co.), Bristol and Hulmeville 

 (Bucks Co.). 



This handsome fish is very abundant in the lower or tidal region of 

 the Delaware and its larger tributaries. I have not yet found it in the 

 Susquehanna. Though usually brilliant silvery-white in life, brassy- 

 tinted individuals are often met with. It attains a larger size than 

 any of the related forms, and is said to reach 9 inches in length. It 

 may be of some use as a pan fish, frequently varying the luck of perch 

 fishermen, as it readily takes the hook. It seems to prefer the still 

 tidal waters of our open rivers and creeks, and is frequently found in 

 shoals about sand bars, and in little bays or guts, frequently associated 

 with killies or other small fishes. The sexes are alike, and without 

 tubercles or brilliant variegated pigment. 

 Pimephales promelas Rafinesque. 



Head 3|; depth 3f; D. iii, 7, i; A. iii, 7, i; scales 42 + 2 (12 

 tubes forming 1. 1., then skipping 3 scales, then tube, then skipping 2 

 scales, and tube at caudal base); 9 scales above 1. 1.; 5 scales below 

 1. 1.; 23 predorsal scales; snout 3^ in head; eye 4; maxiUary 4f ; 

 interorbital 2^; teeth 4-4. Body deep, well compressed, rather short. 

 Head robust, convex. Snout broad. Eye circular. Mouth small, 

 low. Maxillary to front nostril, oblique. Rakers 4 + 11 short weak 

 points, some ends little bifurcated. Scales rather narrowly imbricated. 

 Dorsal origin midway between front eye margin and caudal base, 

 second simple ray detached from third. Anal little behind dorsal 

 base. Caudal emarginate, equal lobes rounded. Pectoral f to ven- 

 tral, latter httle before dorsal and reaching vent. Color olive-brown, 

 scale edges dusky. Head dusky-black, opercle edge creamy-brown. 

 Iris gray-white. Dorsal gray, second simple ray pale, others medianly 

 largely dusky-gray, anterior ones blackish. Caudal and pectoral 



