HISTORY OP THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 129 



large quantities with hand nets, being excellent bait for other fishes, more particu- 

 larly for Smelts. 



I have also seen a flock of the domestic duck swallowing it with the greatest 

 avidity when thrown to them in the same manner as grain, with other species of 

 Killifish. 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Ayres. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 

 Delaware river, Lesueur. Carolina, Dekay. 



FUNDULUS NIGROFASCIATUS, CuV. et Vol. 



The Banded Minnow. 

 (Plate XXIII. Fig. 1.) 



Ifydrargyra tiigrofasciala, Lesueur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc, i. p. 133. 



" " Banded ilinnow, Stoker, Report, p. 94. 



" " Dekay, Report, p. 221. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, ii. p. 434. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 182. 



Fundulus nhjrofasciatus, Cut. et Vai.., Hist. Nat. Poiss., xviii. p. 193. 



" " Girard, in Lit. 



Color. Above, yellowish-green, with numerous minute black dots ; beneath, silvery 

 white. From ten to fourteen narrow black bars cross the sides transversely ; the 

 anterior pass to the abdomen, the posterior cross the fleshy portion of the tail entirely ; 

 opercula cupreous ; a yellow spot exists at the origin of the base of the dorsal fin. 

 Pupils black, irides silvery. In the male fish, the bars are broader. 



Descriptio)i. Head compressed above ; its length is equal to one fourth the length 

 of the fish. The eyes are small and circular. The distance between the eyes is equal 

 to one half the length of the head. Jaws projectile. 



The dorsal fin is situated upon the posterior portion of the body. 



The pectorals are just back of the opercula. 



The ventrals are very small. 



The anal fin is similar in form to the dorsal, and situated opposite that fin. 



The caudal fin is slightly rounded. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 12. P. 18. V. 6. A. 12. C. 17. 



Length, two to three inches. 



Remarks. This species is much less common than the pisculentus. It is found in 

 the vicinity of Boston, in Fresh Pond, Cambridge. 



Massachusetts, Storer. Rhode Island, Lesueur. 



