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REPORT OF THE 



JAlimmiChog,— F/nidi//its Iietcroclitus (Linnaeus). 



The PcecilliidcB, or Killifishes, the family to which the Mummichog belongs, is 

 a large one, containing about 20 genera and more than 100 species. They are all 

 relatively small species, most of them living in brackish water, though many 

 inhabit fresh-water streams and ponds, chiefly of the lowlands. The common 

 Mummichog and several others of the brackish-water species are used to some 

 extent as bait minnows, and one of the fresh-water species {Fundulus diaphanus) is 

 used quite extensively for that purpose. 



The Mummichog, Common Killifish, Mudfish, Cobbler, Mud Dabbler, or Killi- 

 fish, as it is variously called, occurs on our coast from Anticosti Island to the 

 Rio Grande, and is everywhere abundant in brackish waters, often burying itself 

 in mud in the shallow bays and lagoons. It reaches a length of 3 to 6 or 7 



MUMMICHOG; MALE. 



inches, and is an extremely hardy fish. The ease with which it may be taken and 

 its great tenacity of life cause it to be extensively used by anglers on the coast, 

 who find it fairly satisfactory for bass. Pickerel and other species. 



Head 3 to 37^ ; depth 31^ to 4 ; eye 5 ; D. 1 1 ; A. 10 or 1 1 ; scales 35 to 38,- 

 13 to 15. Body thick-set, short, and deep, anteriorly broad, posteriorly compressed, 

 the back elevated ; caudal peduncle stout ; head short, blunt, broad and flat on top ; 

 eye moderate, about equal to snout, about 2 in interorbital width ; fins moderate, 

 the dorsal in the males inserted midway between snout and tip of caudal, in females 

 farther back ; oviduct attached to anterior ray of anal fin for about half its length ; 

 teeth in moderate bands, pointed, the outer series enlarged.; lower jaw strong, 

 projecting beyond the upper. 



Color, dark dull green in males, the belly more or less orange-yellow; sides 



