PKRCID^. 97 



Genus: EtheosToma. 

 Key to Species. 



A. Lateral line complete. (A few tubes rarely wanting.) 



B. Gill membranes broadly connected across the isthmus. 



C. Anal fin nearly as large as soft dorsal ; spinous dorsal with about 13 



spines. — variatum. 



CC. Anal fin much smaller than soft dorsal ; spinous dorsal with 10 or 11 

 spines— zonale. 



BB. Gill membranes scarcely connected across the isthmus. 



D. Head short, the muzzle abruptly decurved, mouth somewhat inferior; 



lower jaw included. — camurum. 



DD. Head rather long and pointed, snout not decurved, mouth terminal, jaws 

 subequal. — macalatum. 



AA. Lateral line more or less incomplete. 



E- Humeral region without differentiated black, scale-like process.— coevuleum. 

 EF- Humeral region with distinct, black process or scale. 



F. Gill membranes scarcely connected ; lower jaw not projecting.— 



tippecanoe. 

 FF. Gill membranes connected ; lower jaw strongly projecting, —flabellare. 



Etheostoma variatum Kirtland. 



Head 3^ to 4 or more; depth 4* to 5)4; eye y/ z to 4. D. XII-13 (XII 

 to XIV-11 to 13); A. II, 7 to 10; scales 8-51 to 63-12. Body moderately 

 elongate, not much compressed, the back somewhat arched. Head short 

 and thick; snout short and blunt, decurved, parietal region broad and de- 

 pressed, resembling Hadropterns in this respect; profile above eyes strongly 

 decurved; mouth small, lips thick, lower jaw included; premaxillary not 

 protractile; gill membranes united. Head naked except 1 to 3 scales on 

 opercle above; breast loosefy scaled. Fins all very large, pectorals reaching 

 beyond tips of ventrals. General color above, dark greenish olive, becom. 

 ing barred vertically on the sides posteriorly, about four black blotches 

 across the back. Females and young similarly marked, but paler. The 

 following color description taken from the living specimen is typical of 

 breeding males : Color, dark olive, with about 8 greenish cross-bars on 

 posterior part of body; interspaces pale, each with 2 bright carmine spots; 

 back crossed by 4 black bars; sides of belly bright orange; middle of belly 

 pale; first dorsal dark brown at base, then a pale space, above this a wide, 

 dark bar, then another pale space, bordered with bright orange; second 

 dorsal and caudal flecked with carmine; anal greenish, bordered with pale 

 orange; ventrals greenish black with a little orange at the margin; pectorals 

 tinged with orange and green, the rays with carmine spots. Length 3^ 

 inches. 



This elegant darter was described by Dr. Kirtland from the 

 Mahoning river in 1838, and was not taken again in the state for 

 fifty years, until, in 1888, Henshall recorded it for the Little 



