440 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Siirvey 



that of Diplesion, but the habit of leaning forward over a stone, 

 resting on the front fins, gives a physiogomy even more frog-Hke. 

 His actions are, however, rather bird-Hke, for he will strike atti- 

 tudes like a tufted titmouse, and he flies rather than swims through 

 the water. He will, with much perseverance, push his body be- 

 tween a plant and the side of the aquarium and balance himself 

 on the slender stem. Crouching cat-like before a snail shell, he 

 will snap off the horns which the unlucky owner pushes timidly 

 out. But he is often less dainty, and seizing the animal by the 

 head, he dashes the shell against the glass or a stone until he pulls 

 the body out or breaks the shell." — Jordan and Copeland. 



60. GREEN-SIDED DARTER 



DIPLESION BLENNIOIDES Rafinesque 



(Plate 33) 



Only 5 specimens of this handsome darter were secured; of 

 these, one, an example 3.25 inches long, was secured down the out- 

 let of Lost Lake near the old mill on September 11, 1906, and 4 

 others, ranging in length from 2.5 to 2.75 inches, were secured 

 about the same place, on October 7, 1907. The markings of these 

 specimens (in spirits) are quite contrastive, the dark markings 

 being jet black; this being probably partly due to the black bottom 

 of the stream in which they were found. The Y-shaped figures 

 mentioned in current descriptions as occurring on the lower part 

 of the side, are united in our specimens, so that the color pattern 

 of that portion of the body resembles a series of arches, usually 

 with a black spot underneath each arch. 



The following description is from the largest of our specimens : 

 Head 4.3 in length; depth 5.6; eye 3.2 in head; snout 3.1 ; mandible 

 4.2 ; interorbital space very narrow, 7.1 in head, the eyes being 

 high up and close together ; mouth small, horizontal, overhung by 

 the blunt heavy snout; physiognomy peculiar, the profile being 

 short and rounded, a condition best described by the expression 

 "bull-nosed" ; D. XII, 13 ; A. II, 9 ; scales 5-61-8. Body fusiform, 

 elongate, but stouter than that of many of the darters;- snout, occi- 

 put, throat and breast naked ; gill-membranes broadly connected. 

 Spinous dorsal quite low, the longest spine 2.3 in head ; soft dorsal 

 quite high, the longest ray 1.6 in head; anal about as long as soft 

 dorsal but quite low; pectorals quite long and large, longer than 

 head and reaching to tips of ventrals; ventrals quite large, about 

 1.1 in head, well separated at base and reaching about § of the 

 distance to the vent. 



