THE CYPRINODONTS. 25 



however, do not retain the elongate form of that species, but become 

 much deeper and more like C. variegatus, and they lose their markings in a 

 nearly uniform light olivaceous. On a two inch specimen the depth is one 

 third and the head one fourth of the total length. Body compressed ; caudal 

 pedicel deep. Head short, thick, nearly as wide as deep from the occiput; 

 crown arched, rather pointed. Snout short, blunt, as long as the eye ; chin 

 steep. Mouth medium, oblique, opening upward ; lower jaws longer ; upper 

 short, protractile. Eye large, three tenths of head, two thirds of forehead. 

 Origin of dorsal about midway from snout to base of caudal. Anal origin 

 under hind half of base of dorsal. Ventrals small, most often with seven 

 rays, occasionally with six on one side or the other, sometimes six on each 

 side ; one or both of the fins are occasionally lacking. Caudal short, deep, 

 truncate to slightly convex. 



The smaller individuals are brownish on the back, more or less clouded 

 and mottled, and have a series of irregular brown blotches along the lateral 

 line, sometimes divided into two series by a longitudinal band of silver color 

 on the lower half of the flank. In cases the blotches on the flank are con- 

 fluent into a brown band. Fins clouded or puncticulate with brownish ; 

 hind rays of dorsal with a darker spot, not always present; caudal, and 

 frequently the dorsal and anal, tipped with black. With age the markings 

 on the scales are lost and the coloration becomes nearly or quite uniform 

 olivaceous, light to dark, with or without lighter centres to the scales, 

 while the entire body takes on a metallic tint that varies in individuals 

 from silvery to golden. Ventral surfaces lighter, bright to dingy. 



Colorado River basin to the Pacific Coast. 



Cyprinodon Baileyi. 



Cyprimdon macularius baileyi Gilb., 1893, N. Am. Fauna, No. 7, 233. 



" Eleven immature specimens from Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, show no 

 • trace of ventral fins. They are olivaceous above, bright silvery on the lower 

 half of sides and below, and have two lengthwise series of coarse black spots, 

 one along middle line of body, the other on a level with the lower edge of 

 caudal peduncle. The anal fin is larger than in typical macnlarim, the eleven 

 specimens having each 13 rays instead of 10 or 11, as constantly in the lat- 

 ter. The material is insufficient to fully decide the status of this form. 

 Except in the characters noted it agrees in proportions and formul£B with 

 macularius." 



