FISHES OF NEW YORK 315 



roundish, scarcely truncate behind in the adult. D. ii, 8; A. ii, 6; 

 V. i, 5. Scales 10-27. 



Color in life: males olive or pale brown, with bluish reflec- 

 tions, edges of the scales darker, dorsal dusky orange, some- 

 times with a large, black spot at the base in front, ocellated 

 Tvith orange, caudal orange yellow, tipped with black, ventrals 

 and anal orange red, tipped with dusky * pectorals translucent;- 

 females w r ith the fins pale olive, without black spot or edgings. 

 Length 1| to 2 inches. 



The species is found along the coast in brackish waters from 

 Massachusetts to Florida; very common on Long Island. Abun- 

 dant in Peconic, Shinnecock, and Great South bays, and in a 

 fresh-water stream at Water Mill L. L; not yet reported from 

 <!rav'send bay. It seldom exceeds 1J inches in length and is 

 interesting chiefly on account of its translucent body and grace- 

 ful movements. It has not proved hardy in captivity. 



The species was first described by Prof. Baird from Green- 

 port L. I. 



Genus CYPRIXODOX Lacepede 



Body very short and stout, the back elevated; mouth small, 

 the bones of the jaws well formed; snout short; teeth mod- 

 erate, incisorlike. tricuspid, in a single series; scales very large; 

 dorsal fin moderate, inserted in advance of front of anal, its 

 first ray not enlarged; anal smaller; ventral fins small, occasion- 

 ally wanting in specimens from desert pools; intestinal canal 

 little longer than body; gill membranes considerably united, free 

 from the isthmus; gill openings restricted, the opercle above 

 adnate to the shoulder girdle. Chubby little fishes, inhabiting 

 the brackish waters of middle America, sometimes living in 

 w T arm salt springs, their colors generally brilliant. Oviparous; 

 the sexes similar except in color. 



157 Cyprinodon variegatus Lacepede 



SJieepslwad Minnow 



Cyprinodon variegatus LACEPEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 486, 1808. South Caro- 

 lina; GUXTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit Mus. VI, 305, 1866; JORDAN & GILBERT, 

 Bull. 16, U. S. Xat. Mus. 329, 1883; BEAN, Bull. IT. S. F. C. VII, 148, 

 1888; 19th Kept. Commrs. Fish. X. Y. 275, 1890; 52d Ann. Kept N. Y. 

 State Mus. 99, 1900; JORDAN & EVERMANN, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mue. 

 671, 1896, pi. CXI. fig. 296. 296. 1900. 



