49. CYPRINODONTID^ FUNDULUS. 331 



little shorter than snout; olivaceous, silvery below. Head 3; tleptli 

 24. D. 11; A. 10; scales 25-10. "America." {Giinther.) 

 (Giuither, vi, 300.) 



15§.— FUWDUmS Lac6p^de. 



Killijishes. 



(Hydrargyra Lac6pede: Xenisma Jordan.) 



(Laci:^p(Hlo, Hisf. Nat. Poiss. v, 37, 1603: type Fundnlits mudfish Lac^p^de = Co&Uis 

 heterocltta L. ) 



Body rather elongate, little elevated, compressed beliind. Mouth 

 moderate. Jaws, each with two or more series of pointed teeth, usually 

 forming- a narrow band. Bones of the maudiole firmly united. Scales 

 moderate. Branchiostegals 4-0. Preopercle, preorbital, and mandi- 

 ble with mucous pores. Dorsal and anal fins similar, moderately devel- 

 oped or rather large, the dorsal usually inserted in front of the anal. 

 Ventrals well developed. Air-bladder present. Sexes ditfering in 

 color, size, and development of the fins, the anal fin in the male nor- 

 mal. Intestinal canal short. Si^ecies very numerous, mostly Ameri- 

 can, inhabiting fresh waters and arms of the sea. They are the largest 

 in size of the Cyprinodonts, and some of them are very brightly colored. 

 {LaWn funclus, bottom, the supposed abode of the '■'■Fundulus mudfish.") 



The species may be divided as follows: 



* Dorsal fin Ijegiiining iu advance of anal, 

 t BrancliiostegalsG. (Hydrargvka Lae^pede.) 



a. ^lales with dark cross-bars and a blaclv dorsal spot ; females with longitudinal 



stripes majalis, sivampinus. 



aa. Males and females with dark cross-bars similis, zebra. 



aaa. Males without sharp markings, the scales rough in spiring ; females plain. 



2)arvii)in'tm. 

 tt Branchiostegals 5. (FUNDULUS.) 



b. Dorsal long, its rays 16 or 17 ; body with round black spots, at least in the 



male svminoUs. 



bb. Dorsal moderate, its rays 10-14. 

 c. Scales rather small, 40 or more in a longitudinal series. 



d. Cross-bars if present, black diaphanus, conflucnius. 



dd. Cross-bars silvery. 



c. T»;eth small, in a band menona. 



cc. Teeth in about two series, the outer enlarged adi/iia. 



cc. Scales large, less than 40 in a longitudinal series. 



/. Males with D or 10 silvery cross-bai-s; females with black bars; tins 



plain n'ujrofasdatus. 



ff. Males with silvery spots and bars ; females nearly plain olivaceous, 



or barred with black heterodUus. 



** Dorsal lin beginning above or slightly behind anal ; fins high. (Xenisma Jor.) 



g. I3rari(;hiostegals .'> ; spots in regular series catcitatus. 



gg. Branchiostegals 4 ; spots irregular ntdlij'er. 



