LAMPREYS AND FISHES OF INDIANA. 2S7 



(^4, No. 6, 72) he reports that about 90 per cent, of the food is of animal 

 origin, consisting principally of insects. This might be predicted from 

 the habit which the animal has of swinjming near the surface and from 

 the structure of the mouth. 



FuNDULus DISPAR ( Agassiz). 



Zygonectes dispar, Jordan and Gilbert, 18'<2, S, 341. 



Form shorter and deeper than in the preceding species. Depth in 

 length three and one-half. Head broad and much flattened, its length in 

 that of the fish three and three-fourth times. Snout broad and rounded ; 

 the iuterorbital width about two-thirds the length of the head. Eye 

 large, in head about three times Lower jaw projecting. Dorsal rays, 

 seven ; anal rays, nine. Scales along lateral line about thirty-five ; about 

 ten in a cross-row. Color olivaceous ; said to be bluish in life. Along 

 the sides in the female run about ten iiarrow dark lines. The adults 

 have a black spot below the eye. The males are distinguished by having 

 about nine dark cross-bars on the sides. The length is about two and 

 one-half inches. 



Distributed from Northern Indiana to Mississippi. Has been taken in 

 Indiana at several points. St. Joseph's and Tippecanoe rivers (1, '77, 

 44, 67); Greene County, "in myriads" {,2-J, '84, 208); Lake Maxin- 

 kuckee (4, '88, 159); Vincennes, New Harmony, Mt. Vernon (4, '88, 

 163, 166). 



This species has many of the habits of the preceding. It loves quiet 

 pools where insects and small raollusks abound, and where it may be seen 

 swimming slowly, "as if it were very hard work." Forbes found in the 

 stomachs moUusks of the genera Phym and Plajiorbig, insects, and a few 

 small crustaceans. About eighty per cent, of the bill of fare is of 

 animal origin (U, No. 2, '78 and 1^, No. 6, '73). 



Genus GAMBUSIA Poey. 



Small fishes differing from the species of Fundvlus in having the an- 

 terior rays of the anal fin of the male much elongated and converted 

 into an intromittent organ, by means of which the eggs are fertilized 

 internally. The young reach an advanced stage of development within 

 the mother's body. The females have often been mistaken for species of 

 Zygonedes, from which it is difficult to distinguish them, except when 

 they are pregnant. 



