FISHES. 131 



water stickleback from Maine,* which resembles G. pungitius in many 

 respects, but has only 2 dorsal spines. The number of dorsal spines 

 would seem, therefore, to be certainly of not more than specific value. 



Gasterosteus nebulosus seems to me to be separated from G. pungitius 

 by no constant character, but only by its habitat. Gasterosteus mainensis 

 is identical with G. pungitius. 



Apeltes (DeKay) Jordan is well separated from Gasterosteus by the 

 structure of its pubic bones. 



The United States National Museum has received from the Muse'e 

 d'Histoire JSaturelle, of Paris, one of the types of Gasterosteus blanchardi 

 Sauvage, described from specimens sent from Boston, United States. 

 This species is our common many-spined stickleback, G. pungitius^ as will 

 appear from the table of measurements, and the name must be regarded 

 as a synonym of the latter. It is worthy of remark in passing that the 

 shape of the post-pectoral plate in species, of Gasterosteus, which has 

 been employed as an important diagnostic character, is so variable, even 

 on the two sides of the same fish, that it is not to be depended upon. 



The sticklebacks of eastern North America, so far as observed be me, 

 may all be referred to the genera Apeltes and Gasterosteus. 



The basis of the foregoing description of the stickleback collected by 

 Mr. Kumlien is the table of measurements which follows. Only 8 exam- 

 ples were measured, but these show the extremes of variation in the 

 numerous specimens secured. In none of the individuals does the length 

 of the ventral spine exceed one-third of the length of the head. 



Mr. Kumlien has sent me the following notes on the species: "The 

 Gasterosteus was taken from a pond more than a thousand feet above 

 the sea on the mountain side. Said ponds were not over 18 inches deep, 

 and of course freeze solid in winter. In fact, there was but very little 

 water at the time I procured the fish. It is impossible that they could 

 have come up from below, as the pond empties by a series of perpendicular 

 falls, some of them 30 feet or more. In my note-book I find that they 

 were light greenish above, barred with dusky brown and black ; beneath 

 white, irregularly blotched with black. Caudal pinkish. Male (?) with 

 a crimson spot at base of pectoral fin." 



* Gasterosteus Atkinsii Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mtis. ii, p. . 



