216 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Color. Back dark green, becoming lighter towards the sides, with numerous spots disposed 

 in vertical series, often becoming confluent in interrupted bars. Irides yellow. Fins light 

 brown. 



Length, 2-2. Depth, O'S. 



Fin rays, D. 11 ; P. 15 ; V. 7 ; A. 10 ; C. 15 



i 



Dr. Mitchill first described this small species as an Esox. M. Valenciennes, in his elabo- 

 rate Memoir on the Fishes of Equinoxial America, arranged it under the genus Cyprinodon. 

 The Lebias rhomboidalis of that author also appears strikingly allied to our species. 



These minute inhabitats of the salt and brackish streams in the neighborhood of New- York, 

 possess slight economical value. They are, with other small fishes, used as bait. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



L. ellipsoides. (Lesueur, Ac. Sc. Vol.1, p. 6.) With a series of large scales on the back and upper 

 part of the head. Caudal fin obliquely truncated. Teeth ending in 3 - 4 points. Length two 

 inches. Florida. 



GENUS FUNDULUS. Lacepede, Valenciennes. 



Body oblong, tapering, with large scales. Head depressed, scaly. Teeth in both jaws, 

 numerous ; the first row acute and largest. Stout conical teeth in the pharynx. Four 

 branchial rays. 



THE STRIPED KILLIFISH. 



FuNDULUS FASCIATUS. 



PLATE XXXI. FIG. 98. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



May-fish. ScHtEPFP, Beobachtungen der Naturfors, Vol. 8, p. 173. 



Patciliafasciata. ScHNEiDEK, fide Valenciennes. 



Hydrargyre ywampine. Lacepede. 



Esoxflamdus, New-York Gudgeon. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Soc. p. 439, pi. 4, fig. 8. 



Characteristics. Sides brassy yellow tinged with green, with 12-18 blackish bars often 

 obscure, and 2-5 irregular longitudinal stripes ; the bars on the tail 

 persistent. 



Description. Body oblong, subcompressed. Head depressed ; its facial line horizontal. 

 Scales large, subquadrate, rounded on the free portion, concentrically striate ; radical portion 

 truncate, with deep plaits in the central portion, its angles produced. Mouth opening obliquely 

 upward ; lower jaw jutting and longest. Orbits large ; their upper margins in the plane of the 

 facial line. Crowded and pointed teeth in the jaws; similar teeth in close rows on the pha- 

 rynx. The dorsal fin high, and slightly rounded above ; placed on the posterior part of the 



