912 FISHES—UMBRID&. 
GENUS 57. UMBRA. Muller. 
Umbra (Kramer Elench. Anim. Austr. Infer., 1756), MULLER, Abhand. Akad. Wissench., 
Borl., 1842, 183. 
Melanura, AGassiz, Amer. Journ, Sci. Arts, 1864, 135. 
Type, Umbra crameri, Maller, from Southern Austria. 
Etymology, Latin, wmbra, shade. 
Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales of moderate size, without radiating strie ; 
no lateral line; head shortish, little depressed; eye rather small; clefo of mouth mod- 
erate ; ventral fins 6-rayed, below or slightly in front of dorsal; anal fin much shorter 
than dorsal; pectorals rather narrow, rounded, placed low, with 12-15 rays, which are 
much jointed; caudal rounded ; preopercle and preorbitai with mucous pores; branch- 
iostegals 6; gill-rakers short, thick ; size small. 
107. Umpra uz (Kirtland) Gunther. 
Mud Minnow; Mud Dace; Dog Fish. 
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Hydrargyra limi, KIRTLAND, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iii, 1840, 277. 
Melanura limi, AGAssiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1855, 217.— JORDAN, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 
1878, 265, and of many American writers. 
Umbra limi, GUNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vi, 1867, 232, and of many centers 
Var.? pygmea. 
Hydrargyra fusca, THOMPSON, Nat. Hist. Vt., 1842, 137. 
Hydrargyra atricauda, DEKayY, New York Fauna, Fishes, 1342, 220. 
Melanura annulata, AGAssiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1855, 217 (after Rafinesque’s, which 
species appears, however, to be a true Exoglossum). 
Leuciscus pygmeus, DEKAY, Fishes N. Y., 1842, 214. 
Melanura pygmea, BAIRD, Niath Smithson. Rept., 1855. 
Umbra pygmea, BEAN, Mss., Jordan, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mas., x, 53. 
Fundulus fuscus, AYRES, Bost. Journ. Nat, Hist., iv, 296. 
Description.—Dark-green or olive, mottled, sides with irregular, narrow, pale bars, 
these often obscure or wanting; a distinct black bar at base of caudal; whitish stripes 
sometimes present along the row of scales; head 3% in length; depth 44; B.6; P. 14; 
D. 14; A. 8; V.6; Lat. 1. 35; L. trans. 15. Length 2 to 5 inches. 
Habitat, Lake Champlain to Delaware and Minnesota, chiefly northward, occasional 
or rather rare in the Ohio Valley. 
Diagnosis.—This species is the only small fish found in Ohio with a 
rounded caudal fin, and a black bar across the tail. 
Habits.—This singular and interesting fish is very abundant in the 
grassy or weedy streams and ponds in the northern part of Ohio. In the 
southern part of the State it is less common, but may be occasionally 
taken. Its ability to survive in mud after the water has evaporated is 
remarkable, and instances are recorded where it has been actually 
plowed up in plowing through a dried up pond or swamp. Prof. Baird 
gays, “A locality which, with the water perfectly clear, will appear des- 
