BLACK-SIDED DAKTER. 973 



Alvordiua maoulaius, Jordan, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 1878, 220 (probably not of Girard). 



DesoripUon. — Body rather elongate, fasiform, compressed behind; head moderately 

 elongate, less pointed than in some of the species; month moderate, the lower jaw in- 

 cluded ; maxillary reaching just past the front of the eye ; eye abont equal to snout, 

 four in head ; gill-membranes little connected ; lateral line straight, prolonged to the 

 eye ; operoles with rather large scales ; cheeks with very small ones, which are scarcely 

 visible over its whole surface ; chest naked ; neck naked or more or less scaly ; body 

 otherwise entirely scaly, the scales small and rough ; straw yellow or greenish, with 

 dark tessellations and marblings above, and a')ont seven large, dark blotehes along the 

 sides, partly confluent, thns forming a moniliform band; fins barred; head 4; depth 6; 

 D. Xm-XV, 13; A. II, 9; scales 9-65-17. 



Habitat, Virginia to Lake Michigan, Tennessee Kiver, and Upper Missouri, an 

 abundant and variable species. 



Diagnosis. — From the other Darters generally, this species is readily 

 known by the beautiful pattern of the black markings on its sides. From 

 nearly related species, the stoutish head, partly scaly, will usually dis- 

 tinguish it. 



Habits. — This species, the most graceful of all the Darters, delights in 

 clear streams with gravelly bottoms. It is less closely confined to the 

 bottom and to the shelter of stones than the others, swimming more 

 freely in the water, while the others rarely rise more than two or three 

 inches. As an aquarium fish it is "hardier than any other fish as 

 pretty, and prettier than any other as hardy." 



143. Alvobdids variattjs (Kirtland) Jordan. 



Etheostoma variatus, Kirtland, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iii, 1841, 274. 



Alvordiua variahia, Jordan, Man. Vert., 3d Ed., 1880, 220. 



? Alvordiua maoulatua, Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Fhila., 1859, 67. 



Etheostoma peltatum, Shauffkr, MSS. ; Cope, Proc. A.cad, Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, 232. 



Alvordiua peltatua, Jordan, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 1878, 220. 



Deaoription. — Body moderately elongate, deeper than in A. aspro; head rather short 

 and stout ; mouth large, the maxillary reaching the eye, lower jaw scarcely shorter than 

 upper, outer teeth somewhat enlarged ; eyes moderate, about as long as snout, 3^ in 

 head; head naked with the exception of a few scales on the upper anterior part of the 

 opercle ; neck and breast scaleless ; ventral shields larger than in any of the other 

 species, four times as large as the other scales, 6 to 8 in number, with strong, radiating 

 points ; coloration bright olive, the back with short, brown cross bars ; the sides with 

 broad, brownish shades; black blotch on neck and on opercle; blackish bars downward 

 and forward from eye ; fins barred, the spinous dorsal with a black band. According to 

 Dr. Kirtland, the males are further variegated with blue, green, and orange. Head 3J ; 

 depth 6 ; D. XII, 12; A. II, 8; scales 7-53-9. Length 4 inches. 



Habitat, Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Not abundant. 



Diagnosis. — The naked head and large ventral plates distinguish this 

 species. 



