THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 183 
The fish also have a certain amount of power to change their color 
Those in aquaria will thus be seen to fade or grow darker to a 
considerable degree at times. In the Wading River they were 
found only in the sphagnum growing along the banks in the more 
sheltered places, or away from the currents. Here they may be 
taken in a small dip-net. They wriggle continually, or suddenly 
remain quiet for a short interval, the small ones in this respect 
strongly suggesting the dusky salamander (Desmognathus 
fusca). ‘The resemblance is still further suggested by their simi- 
lar dark color. In fact, the extremely dark color, almost blackish, 
was noticeable in all the examples caught, though of course the 
notes above will show the various tints assumed when out of the 
water and dying. 
Melanura pygmea Baird, 9th An. Rep. Smiths. Inst., 1854, p. 
342.—Jordan, An. N. Y. Acad. Sci., T, 1879, p. 104. 
Umbra pygmea Bean, Bull. U. S. F. Com., VII, 1887, p. 
147.—Cope, Am. Nat., XXX, 1896, p. 943. 
Melanura annulata Abbott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 
Pp. 95. 
Melanura limi Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 820.—Abbott, Am. 
Nat., IV, 1870, p. 107.—Abbott, 1. c., pp. 386, 388.—Abbott, 
Rep. U.S. F. Com., 1875-76, p. 845. 
Umbra limi Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1883, p. 132.— 
Abbott, Nat. Rambles, 1885, p. 478. 
Family P@CILIIDA. 
The Killi Fishes. 
Body oblong or moderately elongate, compressed behind, de- 
pressed forward. Head usually broad. Mouth terminal, small, 
lower jaw usually projecting and margin of upper formed by 
premaxillaries only. Premaxillaries strong and extremely pro- 
tractile. Teeth incisor-like or villiform, sometimes present on 
vomer, but usually in jaws only. Gill-membranes somewhat con- 
nected, free from isthmus. Gill-rakers very short, thick. Pseu- 
dobranchie none. Branchiostegals 4 to 6. Lower pharyngeals 
separate, with cardiform, or rarly molar, teeth. Third upper 
