68 Catalogue of the Fishes of Connecticut. 



87. Hydrargira ornata ,Le Sueur, Ornamented Minnow, com- 

 mon. 



*88. Hydrargira flavula, Mitchill, New York Gudgeon, Strat- 

 ford. 



*89. Hydrargira pisculenta, Mitchill, Greedy Shiner, Long 



Island Sound. 



Family Esocidce. 



*90. Esox reticulatus, Le Sueur, Pickerel, common. 



91. Esox fasciatus, Dekay, Little Pike, Samp-Mortar River, 



Fairfield. 



*92. Belone Truncata, Le Sueur, Garfish, Stratford and Hart- 

 ford. 



*93. Scomberesox Stored, Dekay, Billfish, Long Isl. Sound. 



*94. Exocetus Noveboracensis, Mitchill, Flying-fish, New Ha- 

 ven and Stonington. 



dividuals I caught at North Canaan. The distinct black spot at the anterior por- 

 tion of the base of the dorsal fin, furnishes the name. Dr. Storer, to whom I for- 

 warded specimens of this, and the other five preceding species, informs me that he 

 has received very fine specimens of this from the State of Maine. Those I took 



at North Canaan were thickly covered with little black blotches, which could not 

 be removed without breaking the skin. Whether caused by parasites or by dis- 

 ease, I was unable to determine. 



*88. We have many varieties of the minnows, but on comparing them, I consid- 

 er it doubtful whether we have more than the above named four species ; the first 

 three of which are common. 



*89. The H. pisculenta has been taken by Mr. Ayres in L. I. Sound. 



*90. A pickerel was taken at Hartford about a year since, (Mr. Ayres informs 

 me,) that measured 38 inches in length, and weighed 14 pounds. This species is 

 unquestionably the best edible fish we have in the State, the black perch (C. nigri- 

 cans) excepted. 



*92. The gar-fish, says Mr. Ayres, " has been obtained 60 mile#up the Connect- 

 icut river. Mr. Olmsted caught it even above Hartford." It is quite common in our 

 tide waters. My largest specimen measured 23 inches in length. 



*93. The bill-fish 1 have not obtained, but am informed by our fishermen, that it 

 is not uncommon, and is often taken in seines. 



*94. An intelligent fisherman and of strict veracity, informs me, that he last 

 spring took the New York flying-fish on the east side of New Haven harbor. He 

 has not unfrequently taken this fish south of Long Island — has often seen it at sea 

 to fly when pursued by other fishes. But the one at New Haven was the only one 

 he had ever seen in the Sound. His impression is, that this one arose from the 



water and fell into his boat. He is sure of seeing it fly a moment, but whether 

 pursued or not he cannot remember. He believes it 10 or 12 inches long. On 

 my presenting figures of different species without names, he immediately pointed 

 to this as the only one he had ever seen. Dr. Dekay mentions the same species 

 as taken in a seine at New York, and presented to Dr. Mitchill. Dr. Storer 

 also (page 200 of Report) mentions it as found in Massachusetts. Mr. Trumbull 

 writes, it has been seen at Stonington. 



