912 FISHES — UMBRID^. 



Gknxts 57. UMBRA. MuUer. 



JJmira (Kramer Elenoh. Anim. Austr. Infer., 1756), Mcllek, Abhaad. Akad. WisBenoh., 



Berl , 1842, 188. 

 Melanura, Agassiz, Amer. Jonrn, Soi. Arts, 1864, 135. 



Type, Umbra crameri, Mailer, from Southern Austria. 



Etymology, Latin, umbra, shade. 



Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales of moderate size, without radiating striee; 

 no lateral line ; head shortish, little depressed ; eye rather email ; cleft of mouth mod- 

 erate ; Tentral fins 6-rayed, below or slightly in front of dorsal ; anal fin much shorter 

 than dorsal ; pectorals rather narrow, rounded, placed low, with 12-15 rays, which are 

 much jointed; caudal rounded ; preopercle and preorbital with mucous pores; branoh- 

 io3tegals 6 ; gill-rakers short, thick ; size small. 



107. Umbra limi (Kirtland) Gunther. 



Mud Minnow; Mud Dace; DOS' Fish. 



Hydrargyra limi, Kirtlakd, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iii, 1840, 277. 



Melanura limi, Agassiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1855, 217. — Jokdan, Man. Vert , 2d Ed., 



1878, 265, and of many American writers. 

 Umbra limi, Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vi, 1867, 832, and of many writers. 



Var. 1 pygmcea. 



Hydrargyra fusea, Thompson, Nat. Hist. Vt., 1842, 137. 



Hydrargyra atricauda,!)^^ ay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 220. 



Melanura annulata, Agassiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1855, 217 (after Bafinesque's, which 



species appears, however, to be a true Exoglossum), 

 Leuciscus pygmceus, DbKay, Fishes N. Y., 1842, 214. 

 Melanura pygmam, Baird, Ninth Smithson. Bept., 1855. 

 Umbra pygmcea, Bean, Mss., Jordan, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., x, 53. 

 Fundulus fuseua, Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv, 296. 



Deecriplion. — Dark-green or olive, mottled, sides with irregular, narrow, pale bars, 

 these often obscure or wanting ; a distinct black bar at base of caudal ; whitish stripes 

 sometimes present along the row of scales ; head Sf in length ; depth 4^ ; B. 6 ; P. 14 ; 

 D. 14 ; A. 8 ; Y. 6 ; Lat. 1. 35 ; L. trans. 15. Length 2 to 5 inches. 



Habitat, Lake Champlain to Delaware and Minnesota, chiefly northward, occasional 

 or rather rare in the Ohio Valley. 



Diagnosis. — This species is the only small fish found in Ohio with a 

 rounded caudal fin, and a black bar across the tail. 



Habits. — This singular and interesting fish is very abundant in the 

 grassy or weedy streams and ponds in the northern part of Ohio. In the 

 southern part of the State it is less common, but may be occasionally 

 taken. Its ability to survive in mud after the water has evaporated is 

 remarkable, and instances are recorded where it has been actually 

 plowed up in plowing through a dried up pond or swamp. Profj Baird 

 says, " A locality which, with the water perfectly clear, will appear des- 



