No. 600] ORNAMENTATION IN THE KILLIFISHES 747 



killifishes have been seen to clasp the female as Keighard 

 describes the creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) . In 

 the spawning behavior of the mummichog I could not de- 

 termine if the male in any way secured or held fast to the 

 female by means of his anal spinules, though possibly 

 they may be of some such use. Killifishes greatly para- 

 sitized with sporozoa or myxosporidia have been found, 

 the adult spawning-males sometimes greatly distorted, 

 though with the development of the spinules more or less 

 perfected. Among species of killifishes represented by 

 spawning-males without spine scent ornamentation which 

 I have examined are Fundulus punctatus, F. similis, F. 

 majalis, F. lucice, F. nottii and F. notatus. 



In the common killifish or mummichog {Fundulus hete- 

 roclitus macrolepidotus) of the tidal waters of our Atlan- 

 tic coast, the male is furnished with little spinules on the 

 anal rays. They are better developed on the outer or ter- 

 minal branches of the rays. They are also often irregu- 

 larly placed, though usually a pair may be found on each 

 segment, or as a spinule projecting out on each side of the 

 fin. None of the scales or other fins with spinules. 

 Spawning-males 76 to 82 mm. long. The female has a 

 well-developed anal tube extending along the front of the 

 anal fin for at least half the length of the depressed fin. 



