260 FISHES. . 



peduncle slender; vent much nearer snout than tip of 

 caudal; D. IV— I, 10; A. I, 10. Cayuga L., N. Y., 

 dredged in deep water ( Wilder). Probably this and the 

 preceding are varieties of the variable £J. inconstans. 

 Length 1^ inches. 



4. PYGOSTEUS, Brevoort. Many-Spined Stickleback. 



1. P. occidentalis, (C. & V.) Brevoort. Tex-Spined 

 Stickleback. Coastwise, abundant; sometimes ascend- 

 ino; streams. 



Var. nebu/osus, (Ag.) Jordan. Many-Spixed Lake 

 Stickleback. Head 3^ in length; ventral spine long; 

 caudal keeled; sides not mailed; silvery, much clouded 

 with olive; D. IX — 10; A. I, 8. Great Lakes (not 

 distinct from preceding except in its fresh-water habits.) 



2. P. mainensis, (Storer) Brev. Matxe Stickleback. 

 Sides with a serrated plate; body banded; D. VII — I, 0; 

 A. 1, 8. Kennebec R., Maine. 



SUB-OEDER-PEEOESOOES. 



{The Silversides.) 



FAMILY XCIX.-ATHERINID^. 



(The Silversides.) 

 Body elongated, more or less compressed, covered 

 with rather small cvcloid scales; sides with a brio-ht 

 distinct silvery band in all known species; dorsal spines 

 flexible and feeble; teeth small, numerous. Small, car- 

 nivorous fishes of warm reofions, usually swimming in 

 schools near the shore; a few species in permanently 

 fresh water. Genera about five; species forty -five. 



