294 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



FuNDULUS PISCULENTUS, CuV. et Vttl. 



The Ornamented Minnow. 

 (PLATE XXIII. FIG. 3. Male. 4. Female.) 



Esox pisculentus, White-bellied KiUifish, MITCH., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. T., i. p. 441. 

 Esox pisciculus, Yellow-bellied KiUifish, MITCH., Trans. Lit, and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 441. 

 Esox zonatus, Banded KiUifish, MITCH., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 443. 

 Fundulus fasciatus, VAL., in Humboldt and Bonpland, n. p. 162, pi. 62, fig. 1, 4, 5. 

 Fundulus viridescens, Big KiUifish, DEKAY, Report, p. 217, pi. 31, fig. 99. 

 Fundulus zebra, Barred KiUifish, DEKAT, Report, p. 218. 

 Eydrargyra pisculenta, ATRES, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., ir. p. 267. 

 Hydrargyrafasciata, ATEES, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 266. 



" STOKER, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 432. 



" " Synopsis, p. 180. 



Hydrargyra ornata, LESUEUR, Jonrn. Acad. Nat. Sc., I. p. 131. 



" Ornamented Minnow, STOKER, Report, p. 94. 



" DEKAT, Report, p. 221. 



" STOREK, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 433. 



" " Synopsis, p. 181. 



Fundulus pisculentus, Cov. et VAL., Hist. Nat. Poiss., ZTIII. p. 190. 



" " GIRARD, in Lit. 



Fundulus zonatus, Ccv. et VAL., Hist. Nat. Poiss., xvm. p. 190. 



Color. Female of a uniform brown color. 



Male, lighter at intervals upon the sides, the appearance being presented of transverse 

 bands. Dorsal and anal fins with black dots. Anal fin slightly emarginated posteriorly. 



Description. Body oblong, stout, compressed posteriorly. Top of head and back 

 flattened. Head one fourth the entire length of the fish. Scales upon top of head 

 very large. Diameter of eyes equal to one fourth the length of the head. Eyes 

 distant from each other. A series of mucous pores on each side of head above eyes, 

 extending also in front of eyes to the anterior inferior edge ; a series is also seen along 

 lower edge of operculum. The nostrils are situated just in front of the anterior superior 

 edge of the eye. Mouth protractile, vertical when jaws are closed. Very minute, 

 numerous teeth in both jaws. 



The dorsal fin is situated upon the posterior half of the body ; it is rounded above. 



The pectorals are broad and fan-shaped. 



The anal fin is situated beneath the dorsal. 



The ventrals are small, their rays are multifid. 



The caudal fin is broad, rounded posteriorly. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 12. P. 15. V. 6. A. 9 - 10. C. 20f. 



Length, one to five inches. 



Remarks. This is the most common Minnow found in the salt marshes around 

 Boston, and is known generally by the boys under the name of Cobler. It is taken in 



