372 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



out, revived and were lively as ever. The longest measured 2f 

 inches in length, and the shortest It} inches. In raking up weeds 

 through the ice in winter, small graybacks were frequently brought 

 up along with Iowa darters, mad toms and crawfishes. 



The Grayback subsists chiefly on small animals ; the stomach 

 examined contained insect larvae and some entomostraca. The 

 stomach of another 2.1 inches long, examined July 3, contained 

 several small snails, several small mites, 1 Bosmina and a few 

 Cypris. It also contained several distomid parasites. 



On June 24, 1901, a number of this species were observed at 

 a boat landing north of Long Point and appeared to be mating. 

 They were in pairs, and the male, the paler of the pair, kept swim- 

 ming along below the other, see-sawing back and forth and rising 

 until their noses touched. He followed her about like a shadow, 

 leaving only to chase away other fishes that came near, but always 

 returning to her. She occasionally dashed her nose at the base of 

 some growing Chara obtaining a mouthful of material, working her 

 mouth and allowing sand and pebbles to drop out. On June 27, 

 one examined contained large roe. Some were observed spawning 

 July 14, 1899. On July 22, 1906, some of these fishes appeared 

 to be ripe, but had not yet spawned. On subjecting them to 

 slight pressure masses of light yellow eggs oozed out. 



Head 3| in body; depth 5; eye 3^ in head; D. 12; A. 10; B. 

 5 ; scales 48-12. Body rather slender, not elevated, compressed 

 posteriorly ; head moderate, quite flat above, teeth pointed, curved, 

 the outer not much enlarged ; fins not large ; dorsal and anal rather 

 low ; ventrals scarcely reaching vent in females, somewhat longer 

 in the males. General color olivaceous, sides silvery; males with 

 about 20 silvery vertical bars, narrower than the dark interspaces ; 

 female with 15 to 20 dark transverse bars shorter than the silvery 

 bands of the male. Dark bands very distinct, somewhat irregular 

 in position ; the back always spotted ; the dark bands often replaced 

 by about 16 shining silvery, vertical bands, which are narrower 

 than the dai'k interspaces ; the interspaces broadest behind ; fins 

 plain. Length 34 inches. 



38. TOP-MINNOW 



FUNDULUS DISPAR (Agassiz) 



(Plate 18) 



This little fish is to bo found in lakes and sluggish streams from 

 northern Ohio to Missouri and south to Mississippi. In many of 

 the waters in this area it is not to be found; in others it is quite 



