THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 281 



spinous dorsal to lateral line; 10 scales in a vertical series between 

 origin of anal and lateral line; mandible 2^ in head; fourth dor- 

 sal spine 2% ; seventh dorsal ray iVt^ third anal spine 2^ ; sev- 

 enth anal ray i Yz ; caudal i yi ; least depth of caudal peduncle 2 ; 

 pectoral i J4 ; ventral i J4-; snout 4^ in head measured from tip 

 of upper jaw; eye 3^^ ; maxillary 3 ; interorbital space 4. Body 

 deeply ovate, compressed. Head moderate, compressed. Snout 

 short convex. Eye circular, about first third in head. Maxillary 

 oblique, about reaching- front of pupil, and its greatest expansion 

 about equals same. Mouth moderate, very oblique. Teeth mi- 

 nute, in bands in jaws, on vomer and palatines. No teeth on 

 tongue. Mandible protruding but little. Interorbital space 

 slightly convex. Nostrils .separated, near upper front rim of 

 orbit. Gill-rakers i -f 9 11, robust, lanceolate, longest about half 

 of pupil. Scales rather large, smaller along and on bases of rayed 

 vertical fins. Scales in 6 rows on cheek. Lateral line complete. 

 Spinous dorsal inserted opposite origin of pectoral, margin 

 notched, and spines graduated from fourth, fifth and sixth, which 

 are subequally longest. Rayed anal inserted about midway be- 

 tween middle of orbit and base of caudal, high, and when de- 

 pressed reaching beyond base of caudal. Spinous anal inserted 

 about midway between posterior margin of orbit and base of 

 caudal, graduated to third spine which is longest. Rayed anal 

 high, and reaching back well beyond base of caudal. Caudal 

 rounded. Pectoral reaching margin of rayed anal. Ventral in- 

 serted just behind origin of pectoral, reaching origin of rayed 

 anal, and ,spine reaching base of third anal spine. Color dull 

 olive, with indistinct traces of vertical dark bars. Ear flap small, 

 black margined with blue and a pearly spot in front. A dark bar 

 about as wide as pupil down below eye. Body everywhere with 

 round bright azure spots in irregular series, most distinct on 

 cheek, opercle and lower side. Length ^ / ^^ inches. Crosswicks 

 Creek, near Trenton. 



I have examined a large series of examples taken in the Dela- 

 ware basin at Trenton and Brown Mills. It is a beautiful little 

 fish, preferring rather still clear waters, or only those with a 

 gentle current. I have found them mostly among the weeds or 

 grasses along borders of ponds, where they are at times abundant. 



