130 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



FuNDULTJS MULTIFASCIATUS, CuV. et Vttl. 



The Barred Minnow. 

 (Plate XXIII. Fig. 2.) 



Eydrargyra multifasciata, Leseeur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc, I. p. 131. 



« " Barred Minnow, Dekat, Report, p. 220. 



« " Stoker, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 433. 



'■ " " Synopsis, p. 181. 



Fundulus muhifasciatus, Cuv. ct Vat,., Hist. Nat. Poiss., xvm. p. 200. 



" " Girard, in Lit. 



Color. The living fish is of an olive upon its whole upper portion; the sides are 

 lighter ; the lower portion of the opercles silvery ; the throat and posterior portion 

 of the abdomen are of a bluish-gray color ; the body is transversely marked with 

 numerous bluish bands, and dotted with darker minute points ; the pupils are black, 

 the irides silvery. When dead this species changes to a yellowish-green, darker 

 above ; and the transverse bands are scarcely perceptible. 



Description. Body cylindrical anteriorly, more compressed posteriorly ; dorsum 

 slightly convex just anterior to the dorsal fin ; its greatest depth equal to one sixth its 

 length. The head is broad and flattened above. Its length is greater than the 

 greatest depth of the fish, and less than one third its entire length. The distance be- 

 tween the eyes is equal to one third the length of the head. The eyes are large, 

 somewhat oblong. The jaws are equal, and are armed with very minute teeth. The 

 nostrils are large, and are situated just anterior to the upper edge of the eyes. 



The indistinct lateral line is nearly straight. 



The dorsal fin, which is quadrangular, commences upon the anterior half of the body. 



The pectorals are fan-shaped, and are equal in height to the length of the dorsal fin. 

 They extend just beyond the origin of the ventrals. 



The ventrals are small ; they commence on a line with the posterior extremity of the 

 "^ pectorals ; their third ray is the longest. 



The anal fin is shorter than the dorsal, and terminates just in front of the posterior 

 extremity of that fin. 



The caudal fin is broad, and nearly straight at its termination. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 13 - 14. P. 18. V. 5. A. 12 - 13. C. 16. 



Remarks. Professor Agassiz kindly lent me a specimen of this fish taken at Con- 

 cord ; and a second taken at Lowell has been sent me by my friend, Mr. Charles Girard, 

 of the Smithsonian Institute, to whom I would express my most grateful acknowl- 

 edgments for his invaluable aid in the preparation of the Cyprinidse for the press. 



Massachusetts, Agassiz, Girard. New York, Lesuevr. 



