446 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



space between the lines becomes colored, making a solid rectangle. 

 In its simplest form the soft dorsal is colored similarly to the 

 caudal, but in most cases it is also more or less densely punctulate 

 with exceedingly minute and quite close punctulations on the mem- 

 branes between the rays. The spinous dorsal varies greatly in 

 coloration and may be simply blotched, something after the fashion 

 of the caudal, or may also have a distinct black bar at the margin, 

 at the base, or both places. It is probable that the latter differ- 

 ence is sexual and is accentuated during the breeding season. Of 

 two individuals contrasted in this particular, that with the ornate 

 dorsal proved to be the male, and the other the female. 



The color pattern of the body is also an exceedingly variable 

 feature. In one extreme the back is a 'sort of uniform olivace- 

 ous brown above, with a very faint diffuse paler streak along be- 

 low the dorsal line, this general brown color breaking up below 

 into irregular blotches leaving the belly colorless except for a few 

 large irregular blotches along the base of the anal fin. 



In addition to this general color there may be vague dusky bars 

 across the side, varying greatly in distinctiveness. They may be 

 so dim as to tease the imagination or in the extreme form they may 

 become so decided as to be the first feature to catch the eye, and 

 remind one strongly of the colorations of Perca or Percina. In 

 one set of examples these were distinct short blotches on a pale 

 olivaceous yellow background so that the fish bore some general 

 resemblance to Boleosoma nigrum. On a single example they 

 were a series of elongate lateral dashes, so that the fish looked 

 considerably like Percina caprodes. It was thought at first that 

 this was a sexual difference, but on examining two individuals rep- 

 resenting each extreme of color pattern both proved to be females 

 full of spawn. 



Head 3.6 to 4 in length; depth 4.32 to 6; eye 3 to 4 in head; 

 snout 3 to 4 ; maxillary 2.66 to 3 ; dorsal VII to IX-10 to 12 ; anal 

 II, 6 to 8; scales 4-50 to 60-7. Body moderate in length, short 

 and stout, somewhat compressed; head long, snout blunt pointed, 

 not greatly decurved; mouth moderate, slightly oblique, maxillary 

 reaching eye; gill-membranes scarcely connected, free from the 

 isthmus; premaxillaries not protractile; caudal peduncle com- 

 pressed, rather long; dorsal outline abruptly arched at nape; fins 

 moderate; distance from snout to origin of spinous dorsal slightly 

 greater than length; dorsals well separated; spinous dorsal 

 rounded, the longest spines about 2.5 in head; soft dorsal also 

 rounded, the longest rays abou^ 1.9 in head; pectoral rather long, 

 1.3 in head, the tip reaching tips of ventrals; anal small, the rays 



