76 THE FISHES OF OHIO. 
varies in position with age from just béhind the ventrals in the young, to 
below the preopercle in the adult. Color, dark olive, profusely speckled 
with dark points, which may form streaks along the rows of scales; 2 black- . 
ish bars at base of caudal. Length 5 inches. The Ohio form is the variety 
tsolepis. 
The Pirate Perch seems to be a rather rare species in Ohio, 
and thus far it has been taken only in Lake Erie and the Maumee 
river system. ‘‘ Lake ‘Erie,’’ Henshall, 1889; Maumee river 
system, ‘‘only two small specimens were taken, one by Prof. 
Meek in Gordon creek near Cecil, and one by us in warm slug- 
gish water in St. Mary’s river at Rockford,”’ Kirsch, 1893. 
Sub-Order: PERCESOCES. 
Fanily: ATHERINIDA:. 
Genus: LABIDESTHES. 
Labidesthes sicculus Cope. BROOK SILVERSIDES. 
Head 44% to 4%; depth 6; eye large, 3%. D.IV-I, 11; A. I, 23; scales: 
75. Body very long and slender, compressed. Head long, flattened above; 
snout long, slender and conic; mouth very large, the jaws produced into a 
sort of beak. First dorsal very low, inserted well back; caudal forked. 
Color pale olive green, translucent, dotted above with fine, dark specks; a 
broad, distinct, silvery lateral band, bounded above by a dark line. Length 
3% inches. 
This peculiar and interesting little fish is widely distributed 
over the state and is generally common. Quiet pools of streams 
and shallow waters of lakes on sandy or gravelly bottom are its 
favorite haunts. Hamilton County, ‘‘one specimen from Bloody 
Run, common in Ross lake,’’ Henshall, 1888; Lorain County, 
‘‘ quite common in the lake and in the larger streams below the 
dams,’’ McCormick, 1892; ‘‘ generally distributed in the waters 
of the Maumee basin,’’ Kirsch, 1893 ; Franklin County, generally 
distributed, abundant, Williamson and Osburn, 1897; Huren 
river at Milan, Sandusky Bay, Wabash river at Celina, Stillwater 
creek near Dayton, very abundant on sandy bottom in shallow 
water in Sandusky Bay, R. C. Osburn, 1899 ; Mahoning river, 
E. B. Williamson, 1900; Pippin lake, Chippewa lake, Summit 
lake, Grand river at Painesville, Chagrin river at Willoughby, 
Ohio river at Bellaire, Licking reservoir, R. C. Osburn, 1g00. 
