THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 399 



Family MYRID.E (Worm Eels). 



Mtkophis punctatus Ijiitken. 

 This species of eel, resembling an earthworm in appearance and size, is 

 found in the West Indies and along the Gulf Coast southward to Surinam. Two 

 specimens were collected by the Expedition off Governors Island, July 7, 1903. 

 Taken by oyster dredge in 5 fathoms of water on a bottom of coral sand. 



Family PaoCILIID^ (Killiflshes). 

 Cyprinodon VAEIE6ATDS Lacepede (Sheepshead Minnow). 

 This little fish is widely distributed, being found in brackish waters from 

 Cape Cod to the Eio Grande. Very abundant in the lake near Cockburn Town, 

 Watlings Island, where specimens were found by the Expedition, July 11, 1903. 

 Cyprinodon variegatus riverendi, described by Poey from Cuban speci- 

 mens, has also been recorded from the Florida Keys and obtained by the 

 steamer Albatross at Green Cay, April 13, 1886. 



Gambusia apfinis Baird and Girard (Top Minnow). 



This interesting little fish, known to the Cubans as " guajacones," and 

 named Gambusia by Poey after the Cuban word gambusino, meaning nothing, 

 reaches a length of but 3 inches. It is viviparous, the young coming forth in 

 the summer when about one-third of an inch long. 



The top minnow is found in marshes and lagoons of the southern and Gulf 

 coasts from Delaware to Mexico, often ascending rivers into fresh water. Col- 

 lected by the Expedition in lake near Cockburn Town, Watlings Island, July 

 11, 1903. 



Family EXOqCETID^ (Flying-fishes). 

 ExoccETUS LiNEATUS Cuvicr and Valenciennes (Striped Flying-fish). 



Found in the warm seas of the Atlantic, but not abundantly. Specimens 

 have been recorded as taken from Corea, the Madeiras, Canaries and Bermuda. 

 The specimen secured by the Expedition flew aboard the ship at Cat Island 

 during the night of July 8, 1903. 



Family HBMIRHAMPHIDilfl (Half-beak Gars). 



Hemihhamphits brasiliensis Linnaeus (Half-beak). 



Grows to a length of 15 inches, is a good food-fish, and is found in more 



or less abundance from Key West, Florida, southward to Brazil. Obtained by 



the Expedition at Clarence Harbor, July 14, 1903. It seemed 'to be rare in 



the Bahamas at the time of our visit. 



