66 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Found about New- York in the salt-water streams, and I have noticed them in the Hudson 

 as far up as Albany, where the water is fresh. I cannot reconcile the Epinoche a deux 

 epines of Cuvicr and Valenciennes (Vol. 1, p. 503), with its naked tail, and its robust flat 

 and sharp tooth at the external base of the ventral spines on each side, with our New- York 

 species. 



THE NEW-YORK STICKLEBACK. 



Gasterosteds neoboracensis. 



PLATE VI. FIG. ir. 



Gasleroslms aculealus Neii'-York. ScHCEPFF, Beobacht. Vol.8, p. 107. 



L' Epinoche tie New-York. Cut. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 4, p. 502, pi. 98, fig. 3. 



Characteristics. A soft and flexible spine at the base of the ventral spines on each side. Tail 

 armed. Length two inches. 



Description. Body fusiform, compressed ; sides with a series of from thirty to thirty-three 

 transverse plates. The lateral line concurrent with the back, from which it is generally 0" 1 

 distant : it is prominent throughout its whole course ; but about the nineteenth or twentieth 

 lateral plate, it becomes elevated into sharp compressed spines, which form a distinct ridge 

 along each side of the tail. Head small, covered with striate bony plates, flattened above, 

 and sloping in a straight line from the nape. Mouth slightly protractile, with a vertical aspect ; 

 the lovi^er jaw longest. Eyes large. Opercular bones with obsolete strias, and without spines 

 or dcnticulation. Minute subequal teeth in a single row on each jaw ; none elsewhere. Tail 

 very slender. 



The first dorsal spine 0'2 long, acute, placed above the base of the pectoral, and with a 

 broad base ; serrate on the sides, and furnished with a membrane. The second dorsal spine 

 above the fourth lateral plate ; and beyond this, and directly over the ventral spine, is another 

 similar in shape and size to the preceding ; a third, which is scarcely 0" 1 in length, and some- 

 what curved, is placed near the dorsal fin. 



Dorsal fin long, composed of thirteen rays, of which the anterior are largest, and gradually 

 decrease in length to the last. Pectorals long and rounded, the tips of the rays (eleven in 

 number) extending beyond the second dorsal spine. The place of the ventrals supplied by a 

 single ray on each side ; the ossa innominata forming a long solid triangular plate, terminating 

 in a point behind, and covering the lower part of the abdomen nearly to the vent : the junction 

 of the plates forms a prominent roughened carina. The ventral spine itself has a dilated 

 base, and is distinctly toothed on its side ; it reaches nearly to the tip of (he abdominal shield. 

 Under each ventral spine is a soft flexible spine, the use of which is not apparent, unless it 

 be to replace the loss of the larger one. Anal fin long, slightly emarginate, with one curved 

 spine and twelve branched rays. Caudal fin with thirteen rays, and emarginate. 



Color. Plumbeous grey or bluish above ; silvery on the sides and beneath. 



Length, 2-0. Depth, 0-5. 



