74 TH E FISHES OF OHIO. 



snout to caudal, this band usually notched above and below, giving it a 

 serrated appearance. A light, translucent spot is conspicuous on the top of 

 the head when the fish is swimming at the surface. Length 2 to 3^ inches. 



The Top Swimmer is a common species in suitable localities 

 in the Ohio river drainage, but is rather rare in the tributaries of 

 the lake. Hamilton County, very abundant in Ross lake, Hen- 

 shall, 1888 ; Maumee river at Grand Rapids, St. Mary's river at 

 St. Mary's and Rockford, Tiffin river at West Unity and Bruners- 

 burg, Auglaize river at Wapakoneta, Cloverdale, Oakwood and 

 Defiance, Blauchard river at Ottawa, Hoaglin creek at Ottawa, 

 " seemingly scarce at all these points," Kirsch, 1893; Franklin 

 County, of general distribution, abundant in places, Williamson 

 and Osburn, 1897 ! Wabash river at Celina, Stillwater creek near 

 Dayton, very common, R. C. Osburn, 1899. 



Order: HEMIBRANCHII. 



Family : Gasterosteid^. 



Genus: EuCALiA. 



Eucalia inconstans (Kirtland). Brook Stickleback. 



Head 3^; depth 4. D. IV-I, 10; A. I, 10. Body moderately elongate, 

 little compressed; caudal peduncle slender, not keeled. Dorsal spines low, 

 subequal, 4 or 5 in number in a right line; a cartilaginous ridge along base 

 of fin; ventral spines short and sharp, serrated. Color, males in spring jet 

 black, tinged with red anteriorly; females and 5 - oung, olivaceous, mottled 

 and dotted with black. Length 2^ inches. . 



This species is probably confined to the central and northern 

 parts of Ohio. It is said to be abundant in some localities. Kirt- 

 land described the species in 1841, from brooks of Trumbull 

 County ; Jordan gives it as " abundant in many streams in 

 northern part of Ohio " ; " Castalia creek ' ' near Sandusky, Hen- 

 shall, 1889; Lorain County, " I have found sticklebacks in but 

 two places," McCormick, 1892; Mr. B. B. Williamson writes me 

 that he has found the species in Niggermill Run at Salem, Col- 

 umbiana County, 1899. 



