50 PRELIMINARY REPORT 



it grows much larger and sometimes reaches a weight of 100 

 pounds. It is quite common in the lalies of the Upper Mississippi 

 System, where numerous specimens have been taken by the Nat. 

 Hist. Surv. The heads of two which were taken in Leech Lake in 

 the summer of 1895 are now in the University museum. One of 

 these fish weighed 36 pounds, and the other 30. 



Another one was reported as having been taken which weighed 

 65 pounds. The muskallunge is not generally so common as the 

 pickerel, and for some unknown reason small specimens of the for- 

 mer are rarely taken. Amateur fishermen do not generally dis- 

 tinguish between the two fish, but call all large specimens of either 

 muskallunge. 



Family POECILIID^. The Killifishes. 



Body somewhat elongate, compressed posteriorly; head con- 

 siderably depressed; scales cycloid and rather large; lateral line 

 wanting or very imperfect. Mouth very small; lower jaw project- 

 ing, upper jaw very protractile; teeth present in the jaws and 

 sometimes on the vomer. Gill membranes free from the isthmus; 

 gill rakers short and heavy. Branchiostegal rays 4 to 6; pseudo- 

 branchia not developed. Dorsal fin single, composed of soft rays 

 only, inserted far back; caudal not forked; ventral fins inserted 

 on the abdomen ; no adipose fin; no pyloric caeca ; air-bladder some- 

 times absent. 



There is known at present but one genus and one species in the 



Genus FUNDULUS Lacepede. 

 Fundulus diaphaniis (Le Sueur). 



Color olivaceous, sides much barred with olive and silvery cross 

 bands; back sometimes spotted; fins not much marked. Body 

 medium; posterior portion compressed; head depressed. Head 

 contained 4 times in the length. Depth 4 4-5. Eye 3^ in the head. 

 Dorsal fin with 13 rays, inserted far back, its first rays before the 

 first rays of the anal or over them, not very large. Anal 11. Scales 

 cycloid, 45-15. Jaws with pointed teeth. Length 4 inches. 



This little fish is fond of muddy brooks and ponds where there 

 is aquatic vegetation; quite common in the state. Numerous speci- 

 mens have been recorded from the various streams and lakes in the 

 vicinity of Mankato and southwest (Cox, 1891-5); the streams and 

 lakes of the Upper Mississippi (Nat. Hist. Surv., 1892-3-5); the 

 streams and lakes of the Upper Minnesota River (Woolman & Cox, 

 1892). ' 



