S8 



occurring in our coU'^'^Mons soiit'i of Mie la'iKile of Alton. South- 

 ward its common name even in Mpplied to ot'ier species —the vari- 

 ous suntishes. There is a uniform /ivtrngs difiference in brightness 

 of color between the lake and river specimens, the latter being 

 much the brighter, but there are no specific distinctions. 



Sub-family Etheostomatin^. (The Darters.) 

 Genus 7. Microperca, Putnam. 



9. Microperca punctulata, Putnam. — Least Darter. 



This little species, the smallest of our fishes, is much the com- 

 monest northward, but has been taken as far south as Union county^ 

 It is less select in its haunts than most of the other Darters, oc- 

 curring in waters of every description ; but we have found it com- 

 monest in lakes, and scarcely less abundant along the weedy mar- 

 gins of larger rivers. 



Genus 8. Etheostoma, Kaf. 



10. Etheostoma eos, Jor. & Copeland. 



(Bui. II. 42; Boleichthys eos: Synop., Pwcilichthys eos.) 



Not especially common in Illinois ; chiefly of northern distribution ; 

 most abundant in lakes, and occurring also in the smaller rivers. 



11. Etheostoma fusiforme, Grd. 



(Bui. II, 43 ; Boleichthys elegans: Synop., 510 & 520 ; PrvciUchthy& 

 butlerianus, Pcecilichthys barrati, Pa'cilichthys fusiformis.) 



This darter, which has appeared in the earlier lists as Boleichthys 

 elegans, is sonthern in its Illinois distribution, not having occurred 

 north of the Kaskaskia River. To the southward it is rather com- . 

 mon in lakes, clear ponds, small rivers and creeks. 



12. Etheostoma asprigene, Forbes. 



(Bui. II, 41; Pwcilichthys asprigenis: Synop., 518; do.) 



This common species, originally described from the Illinois River,, 

 has since been found generally distributed in the central and south- 

 ern parts of the State, in lakes and rivers, large and small, but has 

 not been taken in Northern Illinois. 



13. Etheostoma cccrtdeum^ Storer. — ^Blue Darter; Rainbow Darter; 



Soldier-fish. 



(Bui. II, 41 ; Fivcilichihys variatus, Pa'cilichtliys spectahilis: Synop. ; 

 517 & 518 ; Pa'cilichthys ca-nileiis, PcrciliclttJiys spectahilis.) 



The most highly colored of our common darters, occurring through- 

 out the State in lakes, rivers, and creeks, much the most abundant 

 in the latter. 



14. Etheostoma jiahellare, Raf. 



Not common. Clear creeks and rivers in Southern Illinois. 



