The ]\Iosouitoes of New Jersey 



53 



The rainwater fish {Lncauia parz-ia Baird ) is a very small species, 

 ranging from i^ to 2 -inches in length. The males are olive or pale 

 brown, with bluish reflections : the edges of the scales are darker. 

 The females have pale olive hns without black spots or edging. In 

 life the body is almost transparent. This species appears to be 

 confined to the South Jersey marshes. It is not an active fish nor 

 is it a top feeder. It does not run over the marshes like the killies. 



\ 





^^i.^^^-^i^-^^^'i*' ^ 



Fig. 24. The Sheepshead Minnow. (From Jordan and Evermann, U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., Bui. 47). 



The sheepshead minnow, otherwise known as the "variegated 

 minnow" and "pussy minnow"' (Cyprinodon variegatus Lacipede) 

 occurs everywhere along the Jersey coast. Like the preceding spe- 

 cies it collects in pools. Both this and the rainwater fish will live in 

 ditches and pools foul with noxious gases. The general appearance 

 of the sheepshead minnow is quite sufficient to separate it from 

 the preceding species. 



Speaking of all these species, Mr. Seal says : "Breeding, princi- 

 pally, in shallow pools left on the mud flats by the receding tides, the 

 young appear in the spring in enormous numbers and remain there 

 until they attain a considerable growth — 1^/2 or 2 inches — when they 

 begin to run in and out with the tide. As the tide covers the marshes 

 and flats, these fishes move with it in an unbroken line like a heavy 

 line in battle, feeding as they go. The chance of a mosquito larva es- 



