UMBRIDA, — XXXVIII 87 
92. GAMBUSIA Poey. 
(From the Cuban word Gambusino, which signifies nothing, with 
the idea of a joke or farce. Thus people say, “ one fishes for Gam- 
businos,” when he catches nothing. Poey.) 
211. G. patruelis (Baird & Girard). Tor-Minnow. Body 
plump; tail rather long ; snout broad; eye about 3. Olivaceous, 
usually a dark streak along upper part of side; a blackish area be- 
low eye, usually distinct; D. and C. mostly with dark cross-streaks; 
usually a dusky blotch on sides in females (the dark interior show- 
ing through translucent skin); small specimens often uniform yel- 
lowish. Head 32; depth 3} to4. D.7to9. Scales 28-7. L. 24 
Q. gf 1. Very abundant in all lowland waters from the Poto- 
mac to Ill. and the Rio Grande. The males are scarce and very 
small, the anal process about as long as head. The young are born 
at the length of about 4 inch, in the spring. The gravid females 
are recognized without difficulty, the others are easily mistaken for 
Zygonectes, and have been repeatedly described as such. (Lat., 
cousin.) 
Famity XXXVII. UMBRIDA. (Tue Mup-minnows.) 
Body formed as in Fundulus; head large, flattened above ; 
mouth moderate, the premaxillaries not protractile, the maxillaries 
forming lateral margin of upper jaw; jaws, vomer, and palatines 
with villiform teeth; gill openings wide; gill rakers obsolete; 
scales cycloid on head and body; no lateral line; C. rounded; P. 
narrow. Intestinal canal without ceca; air bladder simple. Ovi- 
parous, sexes similar. Carnivorous fishes living in mud in the clear 
waters of sluggish streams and ponds in cool regions, extremely 
tenacious of life. One genus with 2 species, Umbra crameri of 
Austria and U. limi. 
“ A locality which, with the water perfectly clear, will appear 
destitute of fish, will perhaps yield a number of mud fish on stir- 
ring up the mud at the bottom and drawing a seine through it. 
Ditches in the prairies of Wisconsin, or mere bog-holes, apparently 
affording lodgment to nothing beyond tadpoles, may thus be found 
filled with Mud-minnows.” (Baird.) 
93. UMBRA (Kramer) Miiller. (Lat., shade.) 
212. U. limi (Kirtland). Mup-minnow. Doc-risu. Ventrals 
slightly before D.; A. much smaller than D. The typical form 
(Great Lakes and W.) is dull olive green, with about 14 narrow 
pale bars, faint in young; black caudal bar faint; lower jaw pale ; 
the Eastern form, var. pygmea DeKay (Conn. to N. C.), with 
narrow pale lengthwise streaks instead of bars; dark caudal bar 
