448 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



could be observed, especially in the spring. Here they live in the 

 crevices between some boards which form a dam. They may also 

 be found about the wagon bridge. One was captured near Farrar's 

 on July 6, one was caught at Long Point June 2, 1901, and another 

 was found under a board in shallow water near Murray's, Novem- 

 ber 12. They are also found in the outlet of Lost Lake, 3 being ob- 

 tained about 2 miles down the outlet on Nov. 7, 1907. These, like 

 the other fishes obtained in the vicinity, were very dark, almost 

 black. 



"Gayest of all the Darters, and indeed the gaudiest of all fresh- 

 water fishes, in the Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma cceruleum) . 

 This is a little fish, never more than 3 inches long, and usually about 

 2. Everywhere throughout the northern parts of the Mississippi 

 Valley it makes its home in the ripples and shallows of the rivers 

 and in the shady retreats of all the little brooks. The male fish is 





Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma cceruJrum) 



greenish above, with darker blotches, and its sides are variegated 

 with oblique bands alternately of indigo blue and deep orange, 

 while the expanded fins are gorgeous in scarlet, indigo, and crim- 

 son. The female, as is usually the case when the male of the 

 species is resplendent, is plainly colored — a speckly green, with no 

 trace of blue or orange. When the war of the rebellion broke out 

 there were some good people who were anxiously looking for some 

 sign or omen, that they might know on which side the 'stars in 

 their courses' were fighting. It so happened that in a little brook 

 in Lidiana, called Clear Creek, some one caught a Rainbow Darter. 

 This fish was clothed in a new suit of the red, white, and blue of his 

 native land, in the most unmistakably patriotic fashion. There 

 were some people who had never seen a Darter before and who 

 knew no more of the fishes in their streams than these fishes knew 

 of them, by whom the coming of this little "soldier fish" into their 



