UMBRLDJE. 01. 253 



anal bright orange; D. 14; A. 15; lat. 1. 44; length 6 

 inches. Tenn. K.; one of the handsomest of the family. 

 It probably does not belong to this genus, but it is equally 

 unlike Fundulus, Hydrargyra and Pcecilia^ to all of 

 which genera it has been referred. 



FAMILY CL UMBRID^E. 



(The Mud Minnows.) 



Small fishes like the Cyprinodonts in most respects, 

 but with the mouth different; margin of upper jaw 

 formed by the intermaxillaries mesially and by the max- 

 illaries laterally; head and body scaly; no lateral line; 

 scales moderate, cycloid; lower jaw longest; dorsal far 

 .back; caudal fin rounded; gill openings wide; teeth 

 villiform on jaws, vomer and palatines. Genus one (or 

 two) ; (Melanura has never been properly distinguished 

 from Umbra) , species two, Umbra crameri of Austria 

 and the following. Both are found in sluggish brooks 

 in mud or among weeds. &quot;A locality which, with the 

 water perfectly clear, will appear destitute of fish, will 

 perhaps yield a number of mud fish on stirring up the 

 mud at the bottom and drawing a seine through it. 

 Ditches in the prairies of Wisconsin, or mere bog-holes, 

 apparently affording lodgment to nothing beyond tad 

 poles, may thus be found filled with Melanuras&quot; 



1. MELANURA, Agassiz. MUD MINNOWS. 



&amp;lt; Umbra, Giinther. 



1. /Iff. limi, (Kirtland) Agassiz. MUD MINNOW. MUD 

 DACE. DOG FISH. Depth about 4 in length; head 3J; 

 head rather large, flattish above; greenish or dark olive; 

 sides with narrow pale bars, often obscure; a distinct 

 black bar at base of caudal; D. 14; A. 9; V. 6; lat. 1. 



