FISHES OF NEW YORK 315 



roundish, scarcely truncate behind in the adult. D. ii, 8; A. ii, 6; 

 V. i, 5. Scales 10-27. 



Color in life: males olive or pale brown, with bluish reflec- 

 tions, edges of the scales darker, dorsal dusky orange, some- 

 times with a large, black spot at the base in front, ocellated 

 with orange, caudal orange yellow, tipped with black, ventrals 

 and anal orange red, tipped with dusky, pectorals translucent; 

 females with the fins pale olive, without black spot or edgings. 

 Length 1^ to 2 inches. 



The species is found along the coast in brackish waters from 

 Massachusetts to Florida; very common on Long Island. Abun- 

 dant in Peconic, Shinnecock, and Great South bays, and in a 

 fresh-water stream at Water Mill L. I.; not yet reported from 

 Oravesend bay. It seldom exceeds 1^ inches in length and is 

 interesting chieflj' on account of its translucent body and grace- 

 ful movements. It has not proved hardy in captivity. 



The species was first described by Prof. Baird from Green- 

 port L. I. , 



Genus cyprinodoiv Lacepede 



Body very short and stout, the back elevated; mouth, small, 

 the bones of the jaws well formed; snout short; teeth mod- 

 erate, incisorlike, tricuspid, in a single series; scales very large; 

 dorsal fin moderate, inserted in advance of front of anal, its 

 first ray not enlarged; anal smaller; ventral fins small, occasion- 

 ally wanting in specimens from desert pools; intestinal canal 

 little longer than body; gill membranes considerably united, free 

 from the isthmus; gill openings restricted, the opercle above 

 adnate to the shoulder girdle. Chubby little fishes, inhabiting 

 the brackish waters of middle America, sometimes living in 

 warm salt springs, their colors generally brilliant. Oviparous; 

 the sexes similar except in color. 



157 Cyprinodon variegatus Lac^p^de 



Sheepsliead Minnow 



Cyprinodon variegatus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 486, 1803, South Caro- 

 lina; GiJNTHEE, Cat. Fish. Brit. JMus. VI, 305, 1866; Jordan & Gilbert, 

 Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 329, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 148, 

 1888; 19th Rept. Commrs. Fish. N. Y. 275, 1890; 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. 

 State Mus. 99, 1900; Jordan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mu6. 

 671, 1896, pi. CXI, fig. 296, 296a, 1900. 



