CYPRINODONTID.E. — C. 261 



Besides the following strictly inland species, the common 



Dotted Silverside [G hirostoma notatum (Mitch.) Gill] 



ascends rivers from the sea. 



* Moutli very oblique; the upper jaw plane above, concave within; 

 the lower jaw correspondingly convex, the protractile inter 

 maxillarles forming a peculiar roof-like beak. 



Labidesthes, 1. 



/. LABIDESTHES, Cope. River Silversides. 



1. L. sicculus. Cope. Silver Skip -Jack. River 

 Silverside. Depth G in lengtli; head 4^; eye 3^ in 

 head; anal long, nearly one-third of length of bodj^; 

 scales small; pale olive, translucent, dotted with black, 

 the silver lateral band very distinct; D. IV — 11; A. I, 23; 

 lat. 1. 75; leno-th 3 to 4 inches. Western streams and 

 ponds, Mich, to Ills, and Tenn.; abundant where found, 

 but not noticed till comparatively lately. A very slender 

 and elegant species of delicate organism. The peculiar 

 "duck-like muzzle" is said to resemble that of some 

 Ci/prinodonts^ especially the Central American Helone- 

 sox. 



SUB-OEDER-HAPLOMI. 



[The Toothed Minnows.) 



FAMILY C.-CYPRINODONTID^l 



{The Cyprinodonts.) 

 Head and body scaly; no barbels; margin of upper 

 jaw formed by intermaxillaries only; teeth in both jaws 

 and on pharyngeals well developed; dorsal fin far back; 

 caudal usually rounded; no adipose fin; lateral line rudi- 

 mentary; air bladder simple; no pyloric coeca; head 

 more or less flattened above, the lower jaw usually 

 longer; sexes commonly unlike, the female larger; anal 



