FISH OF ONTARIO. - 97 



(103) Sand Darter. 



(Ammocrypta pelJucida.) 



Scales of body not very rough, only those along lateral line and on 

 tail well imbricated ; nape thinly scaled, becoming usually wholly naked 

 on median line ; belly naked ; maxillary barely reaching- the large eye ; 

 pectorals short. 



D. IX., 9 to ii ; A. I., 8 to 10. Scales on lateral line, 67 to 78. 



Colour, translucent ; scales with fine black dots ; a series of small, 

 squarish olive or bluish blotches along the back and another along each 

 side; lateral spots connected by a gilt band. Length, three inches. 



As this little fish has a range from Lake Erie to Minnesota, it will 

 probably be found in our Province, though as yet I have not taken it here. 

 It frequents clear sandy streams and avoids observation by burying itself 

 in the sand, leaving only its eyes and snout visible. 



GEXUS ETHEOSTOMA. 



Body robust, or rather elongate, compressed ; mouth terminal, or sub- 

 inferior, varying in size; the lower jaw included or projecting; premaxil- 

 laries not protractile ; maxillary movable ; teeth rather strong, usually- 

 present on vomer and palatines ; gill membranes separate or more or less 

 broadly connected ; scales moderate or small, ctenoid, top of head without 

 scales ; scales of the middle line of the belly persistent and similar to the 

 others ; lateral line well developed, nearly straight, often wanting posteri- 

 orly; fins large, with strong spines, first dorsal usually longer and larger 

 than the second, with seven to fifteen spines; anal with two strong spines, 

 the anterior usually the larger, the second rarely obsolete, anal fin always 

 smaller than the soft dorsal ; ventral fins more or less close together ; skull 

 narow, the parietal region very strongly convex in cross-section, supra- 

 occipital crest very small or wanting ; lower pharyngeals very narrow ; 

 pyloric caeca three or four ; bones rather firm. Many of the species are 

 excessively variable. 



SURCENUS NIVICOLA. 



(104) Northern Darter. 



(Etheostoma boreale.) 



Body moderately elongate, somewhat compressed, the caudal peduncle 

 rather long and stout. Head rather heavy, the snout bluntish, rather 

 strongly decurved. Anterior profile gently and somewhat evenly arched. 

 Snout short, about half as long as eye. Mouth nearly horizontal, the lower 

 jaw included, the maxillary extending to about opposite front of pupil. 

 Teeth small. Preopercle entire ; opercular spine strong. Premaxillary 

 not protractile. Gill membranes very slightly connected. A small black 

 humeral scale; cheeks, opercles and nuchal region scaly; breast naked; 

 scales of moderate size ; lateral line very short, not reaching last spine of 



