140 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
This killifish has been found to be of considerable value as an eradicator of mosquito larvae 
on the brackish-water marshes of New Jersey and elsewhere. In addition to its value as a mosquito 
destroyer, it is of importance, no doubt, as food for larger predacious fishes. In some localities, 
notably New York and New Jersey, large quantities are sold as bait. 
Habitat. — Coastwise, in brackish and fresh water, from Anticosti Island, Labrador, to Tampico, 
Mexico. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previously recorded from many sections of the bay and from 
tributary streams from Baltimore to Cape Charles. (6) Specimens in the collection: From all 
parts of the bay; taken almost daily during shore collecting, from April to November, in coves, 
inlets, and streams from Havre de Grace, Md., to Lynnhaven Roads, Va. 
60. Fundulus majalis (Walbaum). Killifish; Striped killifish; “Gudgeon”; “Bull minnow.” 
Cobilis majalis Walbaum, Artedl Genera Piscium, III, 1792, p. 12; Long Island. 
Hydrargyra majalis Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 150; ed. II, p. 128. 
Fundulus fasciatus Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 148; ed. II, p. 126. 
Fundulus majalis, Bean, 1891, p. 92; Smith, 1892, p. 64; Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 639, PI. Cl, figs. 271, 271a, 271b; 
Evermann and Hildebrand, 1910, p. 159; Fowler, 1912, p. 54. 
Head 3 to 3.6; depth 3.3 to 4.7; D. 13 to 15; A. 11 or 12; scales 33 to 36. Body rather slender, 
compressed posteriorly; caudal peduncle moderate, its depth 2 to 2.8 in head; head rather long, 
depressed; snout long, blunt, its length 2.6 to 3.5 in head; eye 6 to 8.6 in adults, 4 to 5.6 in young; 
interorbital 2.7 to 3.1; mouth horizontal, terminal, small; premaxillaries protractile; lower jaw 
slightly in advance of the upper; teeth all pointed, in villiform bands; scales moderate, 18 or 19 
rows in advance of dorsal; dorsal fin rather long, notably higher in adult males than in the females. 
The rays of about equal length, its origin a little nearer upper anterior angle of gill opening than 
the base of caudal in the male, about equidistant from these two points in the female; caudal truncate 
or slightly rounded; anal rather short, much higher in adult males than in the females, the fourth 
or fifth rays longest, the origin of fin below anterior third of dorsal; ventrals inserted about equi- 
distant from anterior margin of eye and base of caudal, usually reaching origin of anal in adult, 
shorter in young; pectoral rounded, the upper rays longest, 1.4 to 1.9 in head. 
Color of adult male, back olive, sides salmon yellow, with 15 to 20 vertical black stripes; 
belly salmon yellow; cheeks and opercles diffused with black; dorsal dusky, a black ocellated spot 
on last rays; caudal somewhat dusky; anal, ventrals, and pectorals lemon. Female olivaceous 
above, white below, black markings on side, with considerable variation in adults of same size. 
The most common markings are two or three longitudinal stripes with several vertical crossbars 
near base of tail. Some fish marked with mixture of longitudinal, oblique, vertical, and complete 
nr broken lines. The young of both sexes are marked with about 7 to 12 vertical bands along the 
.sides. The markings differentiating the sexes usually occur when the fish are lJdj or 2 inches in 
length. 
Many specimens of this species were preserved, ranging from 20 to 170 millimeters to 
6% inches) in length. This species is readily recognized by the large size that it attains, by the 
long head and snout, and by the distinct dark bars and stripes. The sexes, as shown by the color 
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