i64 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Family ATHERINID^. 

 Menidia beryllina cerea Kendall. 



Short Finned Silversides. 



Color in alcohol pale greenish-yellow over upper surface, paler 

 on sides and together with under surface silvery-white. Edge 

 of each scale on back dusted with grayish dots, and these most 

 pronounced on middle of back. Upper surface of head hyaline 

 brownish, side and lower surface whitish and silvered. A leaden- 

 silvery band from shoulder to base of caudal about equal to diam- 

 eter of pupil, and turning dusky when long in alcohol. Iris 

 silvery, slightly grayish to dusky above. Fins all more or less 

 transparent, dorsal and caudal slightly olivaceous, other fins pale 

 or whitish tinted. Along base of anal a pale narrow dusky 

 streak of minute dots. Muzzle translucent grayish. Length 

 2^ inches. This is about the maximum size of those captured. 

 They were abundant in the clear water and conspicuously trans- 

 parent, while Menidia mendia nofata was rare. When swimming 

 they could always be distinguished, however, by their dark lateral 

 streaks. They also associate with the shrimps, Gamhusia and 

 Lucania, and usually do not swim very far away when disturbed, 

 though always in a compact school. New England Creek, at Hig- 

 bee's Beach, in Cape May county, October 6th, 1907. 



Menidia menidia notata (Mitchill). 

 Sih^ersides. 



Mr. W. J. Fox found a large number taken for bait on July 

 4th, 1906, and on July 19th, in Ludlam's Bay. 



Mr. H. Walker Hand reports the "silver fish" as found every- 

 where along the sandy shores, and in Delaware Bay from Cape 

 May Point to Green Creek. On May 5th, 1907, they were found 

 swimming around the pockets of the pounds at Green Creek. An 

 adult female was taken full of spawn, which was easily extruded 

 by pressing the abdomen. Rare in New England Creek at Hig- 

 bee's Beach, in Cape May county, October 6th, 1907. 



