wo 
ea 
Or 
THE SILVERSIDES OF THE GENUS MENIDIA. 
Stomach contents of silversides from Woods Hole—Continued. 
[Off the dock, Woods Hole, December 7, 2 p.m.; fish at surface; temperature of water 45° F.] 
No. eee Sex. Spawning condition. Stomach contents. 
Inches. 
1 3.43 | Female Gonads very small.......... Empty 
2 Ovo. |leecme COW leds te GOR ante n ates 6) 
3 8743) | Malensosscls-se.s Oi senses ccccnibescse se Do 
4 SEDs aeecrs dopees|--42- On Joes cstisce mere ase Do 
5 Sao |e nee Goes tee Ss OM Olacaissnoaiee ome ce cies Do 
6 3.37 | Female...|..... Oe sss cack. ceeceoesncceee Do 
ul 4 Mailer .<s| soc Ope See sioaeeisieicisie ce temise Do 
8 Be: 83s) ae Ove zelecase (60 eRe ree Seeman pa Scere Do 
9 3 Female...|..... Ore eeewee a sccceseoeeat Do 
10 Sy2s | eaceecsas nel seca GOB ee at Eaee eset estes Do 
[Off the dock at Woods Hole, December 21; silversides very abundant at the surface; temp- 
erature of water 36° F.] 
it 3.37 | Female...| Gonads very small. Empty. 
2 SES 7) eNialegeo sea eaene COR on DOLOAL | Lae ae Do. 
3 SE 25a| esse OO emssilace os COM i oases ceocee eee Do 
4 Sho le | pace don kAlsae: (OVO a SRE? ne Seer e Seer a Do 
5 9243,|) Memales 22). s.22 (CLOSE Race eee Do 
6 DOLON| eee woke te Sal lleets sre GO ASS Seo aees ns ce te ace ees Do 
7 3.25 | Female...|..... (6 Lo ies arses sega ee aa eae Do 
8 Bus eres GOres22)|5 Sos (0 Fo jo a Re ee ens Do 
9 i188) |se2% 2 do..-92|bo22- Oye ieee ois ve desnceucses Do 
10 Qo | MAIS: 2 =e -elliae nr GO sanesatescics ncoregosee Do 
DESCRIPTIONS AND SYNONYMY. 
As regarded by Jordan & Evermann in Fishes of North and Middle 
America, the genus J/enzdia now includes ten species and one subspe- 
cies in the United States, five of which and the subspecies are found 
on the Atlantic coast. These are M. gracilis, M. gracilis beryllina, 
MM. peninsule, M. audens, M. notata,* and M. menidia. 
An examination of a large series of specimens from localities ranging 
from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Texas and comparison with the types of 
some of the species force the conclusion that a readjustment of the 
nomenclature is necessary. On the Atlantic coast the species are at 
present arranged in two groups, one of which is characterized by a 
long anal fin, the other by a comparatively short one. The first group 
comprises J/. menidia and M. notata; the second MW. gracilis, M. gra- 
cilis beryllina, M. peninsula, and M. audens. 
In the following pages are given a key to the eastern United States 
species, a redescription of each species, notes and references having an 
important bearing on the question of their relationship, and tables of 
measurements from a number of localities. 
Although the different forms when mixed together are readily dis- 
tinguished by the eye, it is difficult to represent their differences by 
measurements or figures. The differences are small, and to show them 
in comparative tables requires a larger series of each form than has 
been accessible. The depth is exceedingly variable, depending upon 
a variety of circumstances. For instance, a fish in spawning condition 
will be far deeper than one not in that condition. 
*On page 2840, part 111, Jordan & Evermann state that owing to the perfect intergradation between 
specimens from Florida to Nova Scotia, this form should stand as a subspecies of M. menidia. 
