4 University of Michigan 



of all the specimens examined have 79 or more scales. The 

 gillrakers on the first branchial arch number i5-)-25 [(11)13- 

 i5(i7)-|-(2i)23-26(27)=(34)36-4i(42)]. The pectorals are 

 ver}^ long and are contained in the distance from their inser- 

 tion to that of the ventrals 1.6 [(1.1)1.4-1.7(2.0)] times. The 

 ventrals are likewise long and strong. Their length divided 

 into the distance from their origin to the insertion of the anal 

 equals 1.2 (1.Q-1.2). 



In life the general appearance of the fish is silvery, with a 

 conspicuous purplish iridescence suffusing the sides. This 

 purple cast is strongest in the area above the lateral line, 

 becoming fainter on the back and paling gradually toward the 

 colorless belly. The color lying below the superficial irides- 

 cence is on the back pale greenish, and on the sides above the 

 lateral line a brighter green. Below the lateral line the color 

 changes to bluish. The underlying color is obscured on the 

 back by the dense pigmentation, which covers nearly uniformly 

 the entire dorsal surface, and which also extends over the 

 entire preorbital area, including all but the distal one-fourth 

 of the maxillary. The dorsal surface of the head in front of 

 the nostrils, likewise the tip of the mandible, are often a uni- 

 form black. Pigment occurs, too, on the sides, abundantly 

 above, but only sparsely below, the lateral line. The cheeks 

 and the iris also are purplish silvery. The dorsal and caudal 

 fins are rather widely margined with black, most intensely on 

 the median rays of the caudal. The dorsal margin of the pec- 

 torals is often lined with black and the membranes of the anal 

 are frequently sparingly sprinkled with pigment. The ventrals 

 are immaculate. 



