Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 435 



tween ventrals; median line of belly between ventrals and vent 

 with from a few to 14 stellate projections, these projections vary- 

 ing in degree of development and finely granular at base, the 

 granulations probably representing the beading of normal scales. 

 Distance between dorsals very short, from one to a few scales in 

 width; longest dorsal spine (one of the median spines, varying 

 in different specimens) 1.8 to 2.2 in head, base of spinous dorsal 

 longer than head, 3.75 in length and extending over from 21 to 30 

 rows of scales; longest dorsal ray 1.3 to 2.1 in head; base of soft 

 dorsal 1.4 to 1.75 in head, covering about 15 rows of scales; pec- 

 toral rather acute, with 12 to 15 rays, length 1.2 to 1.4 in head, 

 the tip not reaching tips of ventrals ; ventrals 1, 5, acute, spine 3.3 

 in head, longest ray 1.4 in head, reaching about ^ way to vent; 

 caudal lobes 1.3 to 1.6 in head, the fin slightly emarginate, the 

 lobes broadly rounded. 



Color in spirits: Upper part of head to middle of eye dusky, 

 rather coarsely punctulate ; upper part of back with black bands of 

 uniform width (about 2 scales wide) arranged in regular festoons; 

 interspaces whitish or yellowish; under parts whitish, rather re- 

 motely punctulate under magnification, the punctulations somewhat 

 more crowded along ventral line, especially near the vent, and still 

 more so along the base of the anal fin and occasionally in spots 

 along the caudal peduncle, causing these portions to be somewhat 

 decidedly darker. A black band along middle of side, expanding 

 at intervals forming a row of about 7 round confluent blotches, the 

 largest of these being about 6 scales in width by the same distance 

 along lateral line; dorsals and anal dark at base with irregular 

 dusky mottling near margin; pectorals and ventrals somewhat 

 dusky; caudal with a marginal and 2 submarginal dusky bands 

 parallel with the edge of the fin and separated by similarly shaped 

 paler interspaces. 



58. MAXINKUCKEE DARTER 



HADROPTERUS MAXINKUCKIENSIS Evermann 



So far as general appearance and coloration go, the Maxin- 

 kuckee Darter very closely resembles H. aspro and H. scierus. 

 There are, however, a few diagnostic marks that enable one to 

 distinguish it at once. The larger scales, the free gill-membranes, 

 the smooth preopercle and the united dorsal fins are all diagnostic 

 characters. The large mouth, with the maxillary extending back- 

 ward to the vertical of the anterior edge of the pupil, is the most 

 striking. In the color pattern, this fish differs from the species 

 mentioned in having the caudal irregularly mottled instead of 



