ETHEOSTOMA 311 



avoidance of stagnant waters and the larger streams. Indeed, we 

 have taken it but three times from first-class rivers, and but twice 

 from lakes or sloughs, while the coefficients of frequency for creeks 

 and the smaller rivers are 2.72 and 2.66 respectively. It is also 

 differently distributed throughout the state, being more abundant 

 northward in our collections than jessiez, much less so in the cen- 

 tral part of the state, and somewhat more abundant, again, in ex- 

 treme southern Illinois.* While it occurred three times in the 

 waters of the lower Wabash within the lower Illinoisan glaciation, a 

 comparison of the map of its distribution with that of jessice indi- 

 cates unmistakably an avoidance of this area by the present species. 

 It is distinctly a swift-water and clean-bottom species — 83 per cent, 

 of our collections bearing ecological data having come from the 

 former and 92 per cent, from the latter situations. 



In general distribution it ranges from Lake Superior to Lake 

 Ontario, New Jersey, and western Pennsylvania, and thence through- 

 out the Ohio and the Missouri basins to Missouri and Kansas, and 

 southwest to Texas. 



It is a thick-bodied fish, without much grace of appearance or 

 movement, but is very active and alert and always watchful of its 

 surroundings. When alarmed it darts swiftly to the right and left, 

 with confusing rapidity. It is fond of creeping into crevices in the 

 aquarium, and is quite skilful at hiding itself in the sand or gravel 

 by a headlong dive and one or two vigorous. flirts of the tail. 



We have taken females filled with large eggs and males in breed- 

 ing color in early June. Their spawning habits are described by Mr. 

 W. P. Seal, who observed them in the aquarium. The eggs were 

 deposited among the pebbles at the bottom of the tank, the female 

 drawing herself along with a quivering motion, and the male push- 

 ing up close beside her. 



ETHEOSTOMA OBEYENSE Kirsch 



Kirsch, 1890 (1892), Bull. U. S. Fish Comm, X, 292. 

 B., I, 78: J. &E., I, 1092; L., 29. 



Length 2 inches; body long and low, depth 5.6 to 6; greatest width 

 about § greatest depth of body; depth caudal peduncle 2 .2 to 2 .4 in its 

 length. Color (in preservative) light brownish olive, much and rather fine- 

 ly blotched with darker; back with 6 or 7 ill-defined cross-blotches; sides 

 with 10 or 1 1 irregularly shaped dark spots along- lateral line, often obscure; 



*The frequency ratios for the three sections, are, for.E. Jessies .53, 1.46, and 1.02 

 for northern, central, and southern Illinois, and for E. cceruleum, 1.30, .42, and 1.28, 

 respectively. 



