235 



REPORT OP STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Gambusia PATRUELI8 (B. and G.). 



Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, 8, 893; Zygonedes melanops, J. and G. , op. 

 cit 840 (females). 



Body of the male rather elongated, the depth in the length about four 

 times; of the females rather deeper, the depth in the length about three 

 and one-half times. Head flat, snout broad, the lower jaw projecting. 

 Eye in the head three to three and one-half times. Scales along the 

 lateral lines from twenty-eight to thirty-eight. Dorsal rays seven to 

 nine; anal rays nine. Anal fin of the males with the anterior rays elon- 

 gated into an intromittent organ as long as the head. Color yellowish 

 brown ; the females with the scales dark-edged ; the males sometimes 

 with rows of dark dots along the sides ; a dark spot below the eye. 

 Length of the females about two and one-half inches; of the males about 

 an inch. 



Distribution from all the Southern States north to Southern Indiana. 

 Has been taken in Posey County (^, '88, 163). 



This fish is abundant throughout the Southern States from the Atlan- 

 tic Coast, where it lives in the brackish waters, to the Rio Grande. It is 

 interesting from the fact that it does not deposit its eggs, but retains 

 them within the body, where they undergo their development. An in- 

 teresting acTOunt of the development of the species has been given by 

 Dr. Ryder (quoted 2, 909). The number of young brought forth by 

 each female is from twenty-five to thirty. When ushered into the world 

 the young are in as advanced a stage of development as is a shad at the 

 age of from three to six weeks, and are eminently capable of taking care 

 of themselves. 



Family UMBKIDyE. 



A family containing a single genus and two species. One of these 

 inhabits Austria, the other North America. It is related to the Oyprino- 

 dontidre, but diflfers in having the upper margin of the jaw formed mostly 

 by the maxillaries, in having n on protractile premaxillaries, and in having 

 teeth on the palatines. Dorsal fin in front of the anal. Ventrals small 

 near the anal Lateral line wanting in our species, obscure in the other. 



Genus UMBRA Miiller. 



Body covered with cycloid scales. Mouth moderate. Ventral rays 

 six Gill-rakers short. 



