LaMPRKYS A.ND fishes of Ii\I)lANA. 283 



dark specks; sometimes with ten dark dorsal bars and about as many 

 across the lateral line. This species has been described under many 

 names, and some of them may stand for distinct varieties or sub-species. 

 The typical ^wstjor me has depth in lecgth six; a dark lateral band and 

 some red markings ; lateral line, fifty-five ; pores on ten to twenty scales. 

 Palustre has a depth of four and one-half to five and one-half; no bright 

 red ; sides with greenish cross shades. Eos has a depth four and one- 

 half to five and one-half; sides with crimson spots and some dark blue 

 bars across the backand lateral line; scales, fifty-eight, pores on twenty- 

 five. Dr. Eigenmann (^2^, '93, 105) separates the two forms, /wsi/brme 

 being found in the southern part of the State ; eos in the northern. 



Massachusetts to Minnesota and southward. Greene County (S3, '84, 

 209, palmtre); Posey County (^, '88, 165); Vigo County (^, '88, 166-7 

 and 16, 96); Carroll County (23, '88, 52, eos); Marshall County (S3, '88, 

 55); Lakes of Laporte County, St. Joseph's River, Maumee River and 

 White River at Indianapolis (1, '77, 43, 46); Eel River Basin (4, 

 '94, 39). 



This species is extremely variable in form, color, and in number of 

 scales and fin rays. It appears to be a swamp-loving species, and in this 

 respect differs greatly from most members of the sub-family. Its food is 

 essentially the same as that of the others — larvse of aquatic diptera and 

 ephemerids (Forbes, i^. No. 3. 22, " Boleichthys elegans"). 



Etheostoma microperca J. and G. 



3Iieroperca punctidata, Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, 8, 523. 



Size very small, not exceeding one and one-half inch. Form stout 

 and compressed. Depth in the length about four and one-half. H* ad 

 in length three and three-quartefs. Snout pointed. Mouth moderate ; 

 oblique ; the maxillary reaching the front of the eye. Cheeks naked ; 

 opercles with a few scales. Scales in a row along the side about thirty - 

 four. No pores developed. Dorsal rays VI or VII, 10; anal, II, 6 

 Anal spines strong. Olive, with zigzag and irregular markings and 

 specks of brown. A dark spot on the shoulder and dark bands about 

 the eyes. 



Distributed from central Indiana to Minnesota. Eel R. system (4. 

 '94, 39); White River, at Indianapolis (1, '77, 375) ; Lakes of Laporte 

 County, St. Joseph's River, Maumee River, Noble County (1, '77, 43) ; 

 said by Nelson to be common in clear tributaries to Lake Michigan, about 

 Waukegan, Illinois. Not common in the Wabash Valley (14, No. 1, 

 34). Length one inch to one and one-half. 



This is one of the smallest of known fishes. Forbes found that it sub- 

 sists on the larvpe of dipterous and ephemerid insects, but principally on 

 minute crustaceans. 



