910 FISHES—CYPRINODONTIDZ, 
105. ZyGoNECTES NoTATUS (Rafinesque) Jordan. 
Top Minnow; Top Swimmer. 
Semotilus? notatus, RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 86. e 
Zygonectes notatus, JORDAN, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 1878, 264, and elsewhere. 
Pecilia olivacea, STORER, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., July, 1845; Synopsis, 430. 
Zygonectes olivaceus, AGASsiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, xvii, 1854, 353.—JORDAN, Man. 
Vert., 252. } 
Fundulus tenellus, BAIRD and GIRARD, Proce. Phila. Acad., 1853, 289. 
Zygonectes tenellus, GIRARD, Proc. Phila. Acad. Sci., 1859, 60. 
Zygenectes lateralis, AGASSIZ, Journ. Sci. Arts, 1854, 353. 
Zygonectes zonatus, AGAss1z, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1854, 353. 
Zygonectes pulchellus, GIRARD, Proc. Phila. Acad. Sci., 1857, 113.—JORDAN, Ind. Geol. 
Surv., 1874, 218. 
Haplochilus pulchellus, GUNTHER, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., v, 1866, 314. 
Fundulus aureus, Copx, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1865, 78. 
Haplochilus aureus, GUNTHER, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., vi. 1866, 315. 
Description.—Body rather slender, compressed behind ; head low, depressed, and rather 
elongate, the snout somewhat produced, the lower jaw scarcely projecting; interorbital 
space broad, its width about half length of head; eye large, less than snout, about three 
in head; fins moderate, the dorsal and anal elevated.in the males; teeth in a broad 
band, the outer series considerably enlarged and canine-like; coloration brownish-olive, 
with a broad, dark purplish-black lateral band running from tip of snout through eye 
to base of caudal; darker in males than in females; young specimens have the edges 
of the band serrated ; a few series of small, black dots along ihe side of the back; dor- 
sal, caudal, and anal fins dotted with black; top of head with a conspicuous translucent 
spot in life, which fades in spirits; concentric striz on scales, strong; head 4; depth; 
44; D.9; A. 11; scales 34x11, 
Habitat, all waters of the basin of the Mississippi, and in southern tributaries of the 
Great Lakes. 
Diagnosis.—T his is the only Ohio fish with the caudal fin rounded be- 
hind, the head flattened above, and a purplish-black lateral band which 
passes around the nose. 
Habits.—This is a very common species in the basin of the Mississippi. 
It frequents still waters, especially canals and ponds made by overflow 
of creeks in the spring. In open rivers it is found chiefly in still, 
weedy places. Where found, it always swims near the surface, and may 
be recognized as far as seen by one expert in little fishes. It is too small 
for food, but is sometimes used for bait. Its beauty and extreme hardi- 
ness render it a desirable aquarium fish to those few who prefer our 
graceful native fishes to the gaudy and vulgar gold-fish, 
106. ZyYGONECTES DISPAR Agassiz. 
Striped Top Minnow. 
Zygonectes dispar, AGASs1z, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1824, 253.—NELSON, Bull. Ills. Mus.. 
