Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque). — Top-minnow. (206) 



On the side and around the snout a large dark purplish stripe, with sometimes a sugges- 

 tion of bars. 



Common throughout the State in such situations as described for F. ditpar. 

 Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard).— Top-minnow. (211) 



A tiny top minnow, with deep body. The males are very minute and scarce. 



Taken from 17 localities in southern Illinois; two specimens from Havana provisionallr 

 referred to this species. 



Gambusia nobilis (Baird & Girard). — Top-minnow. 



Similar to O. affinis. but less common in our collections. Possibly identical with the 

 preceding, specimens being overgrown examples of that species. 



Prom Johnson county, and from ponds near the Wabash River opposite Mt. Carmel. 



Family AMBLYOPSiDiE (The Blind Fishes). 

 Chologaster papilliferus Forbes. 



The eyes of these fishes are imperfect, and they otherwise show relationships with the 

 blind fishes of the caves, which have not yet been taken in Illinois. 



Taken only from a spring under a bluff of the Mississippi River west of Cobden 

 111. These fishes have been obtained by only two or three collectors. Mr. E. B. Forbes, the 

 most recent collector, secured about two dozen specimens, which he was able to dip up from 

 among the rocks with a tin cup. 



Family Gasterosteid.^ (The Sticklebacks). 

 Euealia inconstans (Kirtland). — Brook Stickleback. 



A northern form, not common in Illinois; has been taken from a spring-fed slouch of 

 Indian Creek near Wedron, in LaSalle county. 



Family Percopsid^ (The Trout Perches). 

 Percopsis guttatus Agassiz. — Trout Perch; Sand-roller. 



This peculiar fish is no doubt frequently overlooked by inexperienced collectors, who 

 mistake it for a minnow. Its small adipose fln will distinguish it from all other scaly fishes 

 common to Illinois except the whitefishes. from which it differs in the form of the body and 

 in the spiny rays of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins. The sides are marked with round 

 dusky spots; color otherwise pale. 



Found in Lake Michigan, and in the Illinois River, from Ottawa to Meredosia. Not very 

 common. 



Family Aphredoderid^ (The Pirate Perches). 



Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams). — Pirate Perch. 



This fish, like the last, is frequently overlooked by collectors because of its superficial 

 resemblance to the sunflshes; called "half-breeds'" by a boy who thought them a cross be- 

 tween sunflsh and minnows. Head broader than in the sunfishes; dorsal spines but 3 or 4 in 

 number; vent in adults in front of the ventral fins. 



Taken in 92 collections, from muddy pools throughout the State. 



Family Atherinidje (The Silversides). 



Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). — Brook Silverside; Skipjack. 



a slender silvery fish, commonly mistaken by unobservine fishermen for a minnow. The 

 small tuft-like spinous dorsal fln with 4 rays; soft dorsal with 11 rays; anal elongate, consist- 

 ing of a spine and 23 soft rays. The form of the mouth is peculiar, being prolonged into a 

 sort of beak, the lower jaw curved dowiaward. 



Abundant near the shores of larger streams and lakes, and frequently taken from the 

 grassy parts of prairie creeks. Generally distributed over the State. 



