338 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 
159.— ZYGONfECTES Agassiz. 
Top Minnows. 
{Mieristins Gill.) 
(Agassiz, Am. Joiirn. Sci. Arts, 1851, 135: type PoeciUa oUvacea Storer.) 
This genus is closely related to Fundidiis, diliering chiefly in the small 
size and posterior position of the dorsal, which has usually less than 
ten rays and is coiuinouly inserted behind the front of the anal lin. 
The species are smaller in size than those of Fundulus, and different in 
appearance, so that we feel reluctant to unite the two genera, although 
the technical differences are very slight. From the Old World genus 
dlcqjlochilus, Zygonectes is distinguished by the short anal fin. The fe- 
males of Zygonectes are scarcely distinguishable from those of Gamhusia. 
Species all American. Surfiice swimmers, feeding upon insects. 
yoke; swimmer; they being said to swim in pairs.) 
* Bodj' rather elongate. {Zygonectes.) 
a. Sides Avithout black band. 
546. Z. rubrifroMS Jordan. 
Body moderately stout, little compressed, not elevated, the caudal 
peduncle deep ; head rather long, broad between the eyes, flat above ; 
eyes large, in head, their range horizontal; mouth rather large. 
Teeth small, nearly even, in a narrow band. Scales moderate. Dorsal 
flu very short and small, placed a little behind the anal or about even 
with it, its position in the males rather more posterior ; anal short, high 
in the males ; ventrals very small ; pectorals small. Color, males darh 
olivaceous, with a dark, bronze-orange sjmt on each scale posteriorly, 
much as in Fundulus catenatus. Below, these spots are bright orange. 
Faint, narrow vertical, orange bars along the lower and posterior part 
of the body. Vertical fins with orange spots. Jaws and space in front 
of eyes bright orange-red ; paired fins dusky. Females almost uniform 
brassy-olivaceous, without evident spots or red markings. Head 3^ in 
length to base of caudal; depth 3f. D. 7 or 8; A. 8 or 9; Lat. 1. 32; 
L. transv. 11 or 12; B. 5. L. 2J-3 inches. San Sebastian Eiver, Flor- 
ida, a larger species than most in the genus, and with the dorsal fin less 
I)Osterior. 
(.Torda*!, Proc. U. S. Nat. 3Ius. 1879, 237.) 
.5 lY. Z. Eic:3Sbnlli Jordan. 
Body rather stout, deep and compressed, the profile nearly straight, 
the back little elevated, and the caudal pedincle deep; head moderate; 
