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FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM 
 
 PUBLICATION 41. 
 ZOOLOGICAL SERIES. VOL. I, No. 17. 
 
 NOTES ON A COLLECTION 
 OF FISHES AND AMPHIBIANS 
 
 FROM 
 
 MUSKOKA AND GULL LAKES. 
 
 BY 
 
 S. E. MEEK, 
 Assistant Curator, Department of Zoology. 
 
 D. G. ELLIOT, F.R.S.E., 
 Curator, Department of Zoology. 
 
 CHICAGO, U. S. A. 
 
 November, 1899. 
 
NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF FISHES AND AMPHIBIANS 
 FROM MUSKOKA AND GULL LAKES. 
 
 BY S. E. MEEK. 
 
 The present paper is based on a collection of fishes and amphib- 
 ians made at Gravenhurst, Ontario, by the writer the second week 
 in September, 1899. The country about Gravenhurst is very rough 
 and rocky, and contains a large number of lakes. Muskoka, the 
 largest of these, is joined on the north by Rosseau and Joseph Lakes. 
 These three form a body of water about forty-five miles in length, and 
 from a few rods, to more than five miles in width. Its coast line is 
 rough and rocky, excepting that here and there are narrow bays, 
 which usually terminate in sandy beaches or low marshy shores. 
 
 "Gull Lake is much smaller than Muskoka, and lies about one and 
 one-half miles east of its southern end. It is about sixty feet higher 
 than Muskoka, into which it drains. Our collection was made in 
 Gull Lake, its outlet, and the southern end of Muskoka Lake. 
 
 Commercial fishing is not permitted in these lakes, and the 
 larger game fishes are reported as abundant. During my visit the 
 disagreeable weather prevented fishing for the larger species, and 
 my attention was given mostly to collecting the smaller. 
 
 PISCES. * 
 
 1. Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). 
 
 (Dog-fish; Cat-fish.) 
 
 Abundant in Gull and Muskoka Lakes. It is sometimes spoken 
 of as Cat-fish or Bullhead, but more often called Dog-fish. 
 
 2. Catostomus commersonii (Lacepede). 
 
 (Sucker.) 
 
 Abundant in the outlet of Gull Lake. I was informed that 
 many were speared in the spring at the lower part of Gull Lake, 
 
 and in the upper part of its outlet. 
 
 (307) 
 
308 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. i. 
 
 3. Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill). 
 
 (Chub.) 
 
 Abundant in the outlet of Gull Lake. 
 
 4. Abramis chrysoleucas (Mitchill). 
 
 One specimen taken in the outlet of Gull Lake. Length, 1.86 
 inches; anal rays, 13. 
 
 5. Notropis muskoka, sp. nov. 
 
 Length of type 2.91 inches. No. 2964. 
 
 Head, 4; depth, 5}^; D., 8; A., 8; scales, 36 (10 from dorsal to 
 ventral fin); teeth, 4-4, tips slightly hooked, grinding surface 
 narrow; eye, 3^ in the length of the head; snout, 3^. Body 
 rather terete and slender; snout bluntish; mouth small and 
 slightly oblique; lower jaw the shorter, slightly included; pos- 
 terior end of maxillary scarcely reaching vertical from the front 
 of orbit. Eighteen scales between nape and dorsal fin, the 
 scales in this region being smaller and more crowded than on 
 sides and posterior dorsal region, much resembling Pimephales 
 notatus in this respect. Origin of the first ray of dorsal fin mid- 
 way between the base of the caudal fin and the tip of the snout. 
 Lateral line incomplete, not extending beyond the fourth scale 
 on each side. The longest (anterior) dorsal rays are nearly three 
 times the length of the posterior ones, the tips of the former 
 extending considerably beyond the tips of the latter when the fin 
 is deflexed; longest dorsal ray, 1^3 in head; pectorals, i^ in 
 head, their tips reaching 2 /$ distance from their base to base of 
 ventrals; ventrals 2 in head, their tips reaching to base of anal. 
 
 Color olivaceous, darker above, very pale below; a dark band 
 about y?, diameter of eye around snout and on sides to base of 
 caudal fin; on the snout this band is confined to the upper jaw; 
 between this band and the darker color on the dorsal region is 
 a lighter band of about the same width; a dark vertebral line 
 present, also a similar one from base of anal to caudal fin. 
 
 Twenty-four specimens varying in length from 1.31 inches to 
 2.83 inches, taken from the lower part of Gull Lake, and from 
 the outlet just below the first falls. The lateral line on most of 
 the specimens is as described in the type specimen. In a few of 
 the other specimens it is absent on the first scales and appears 
 at intervals along the sides on about 12 scales, occasionally, 
 usually in the smaller specimens, it is absent altogether. It is 
 less developed in this species than in any other of the genus. 
 
Nov. 1899. FISHES FROM ONTARIO MEEK. 309 
 
 This species differs from Notropis cayuga, Meek, in the reduced 
 size of the scales before dorsal fin, the more slender body, less 
 blunt snout, and the slightly larger and more oblique mouth, 
 and the more incomplete lateral line. It is also a larger fish 
 than Notropis cayuga. 
 
 6. Notropis cornutus (Mitchill). 
 
 (Silverside; Shiner.) 
 Abundant. 
 
 7. Cristivomer namycush (Walbaum). 
 
 (Lake trout; Salmon trout.) 
 
 Caught in large numbers in Muskoka Lake; not found in Gull 
 Lake. 
 
 8. Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). 
 
 (Brook trout ; speckled trout.) 
 
 Reported as common in streams and many smaller lakes, none 
 taken in Gull Lake. 
 
 A white fish and a lake herring are said to be found in Mus- 
 "koka Lake, none were taken during my visit and I am unable to 
 give name of the species. 
 
 9. Umbra limi (Kirtland). 
 
 Abundant in lower part of Gull Lake and in its outlet. 
 
 10. Lucius lucius (Linnaeus). 
 
 (Pike. Pickerel.) 
 
 This species is not found in Gull Lake. Large numbers are 
 caught each year in Muskoka Lake. 
 
 11. Lucius masquinongy (Mitchill). 4 
 
 (Muscalonge.) 
 
 I saw none of this species. It is reported as less common in 
 Muskoka Lake than the preceding; not found in Gull Lake. 
 
 12. Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus). 
 
 (Sunfish.) 
 
 In Gull and Muskoka Lakes, apparently common. 
 
 The specimens collected are more slender (depth 2^3 to 2^) 
 than specimens from northern Illinois. In the young the sides 
 have from 12 to 14 dark bars. These bars are quite conspicuous 
 in specimens 5 inches in length. 
 
3io FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. i. 
 
 13. Micropterus dolomieu Lecepede. 
 
 (Bass. Green Bass; Small Mouthed Black Bass.) 
 So far as I could learn this is the most abundant game fish in 
 Gull and Muskoka Lakes. The day I arrived one gentleman 
 and his wife brought in 46 specimens from Muskoka Lake, 
 the result of less than a half day's catch. 
 
 14. Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). 
 
 (Large Mouthed Black Bass.) 
 
 Mr. Currie, of Bala, reports this species from Muskoka Lake. 
 None were seen by me. 
 
 15. Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill). 
 
 (Pickerel. Wall Eyed Pike ; Pike.) 
 
 Mr. Cockburn, manager of the Muskoka Navigation Company, 
 reports this species as very abundant in Muskoka Lake, none 
 were taken during my visit. 
 
 It is difficult to always understand the use of the names Pike 
 and Pickerel. On the Muskoka Lakes the name Pickerel is 
 usually employed for this species, while Lucius lucius is more 
 commonly known as the Pike. According to Mr. Currie, Lifdus 
 lucius is not found in Muskoka Lake, but in its outlet. 
 
 16. Perca flavescens (Mitchill). 
 
 (Perch.) 
 
 Abundant in Gull and Muskoka Lakes. 
 
 17. Etheostoma boreale Jordan. 
 
 Five specimens, largest 2.10 inches in length, smallest 1.42 
 inches. All were taken in the lower end of Gull Lake. Dorsal 
 ix-io; anal ii, 6 or 7, scales 52; lateral line developed on anterior 
 half of body. Cheeks with a few scales ; breast naked. Soft 
 dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins with dark bars and a brownish 
 red tinge, other fins white ; a brownish red tinge on sides, most 
 conspicuous between the darker markings ; 10 or n black bars 
 across the back, those on the sides are more or less broken up 
 and not so evident. This Darter was first noticed by Dr. Jordan 
 in 1884. At present it is known only from a small stream near 
 Montreal and from Gull Lake. It probably inhabits the south- 
 ern portions of the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. It is 
 found farther north than any other of our eastern darters. 
 
Nov. 1899. AMPHIBIANS FROM ONTARIO MEEK. 311 
 
 AMPHIBIA. 
 
 1. Diemyctylus viridescens Rafinesque. 
 
 One specimen from lower end of Gull Lake. 
 
 2. Hyla pickeringii (Storer). 
 
 Common along the outlet of Gull Lake. 
 
 3. Rana pipens Gmelin. 
 
 (Green frog.) 
 Abundant. 
 
 4. Rana clamata Daudin. 
 
 Apparently less common than the preceding. 
 
 5. Rana cantabridgensis Baird. 
 
 Twenty- one specimens (all I saw) were caught in a compara- 
 tively small area near the outlet of Gull Lake ; smaller .93 
 inches in length, largest 1.14 inches in length. Between the 
 dermal folds are many short folds irregularly placed ; back with 
 many small warty-like tubercles ; sides nearly smooth. Color of 
 back reddish or reddish-brown to a very dark brown, with a 
 darker central area, sides lighter with a few small black spots on 
 some specimens. Under surface white, belly and throat pro- 
 fusely spotted with dark brown. No vertebral stripe or stripe 
 on anterior portion of the thigh on any of the specimens. 
 
 Though these specimens were found near the water, none 
 made any special attempt to reach it when pursued; the weather 
 being cool, they were quite inactive and would only make a few 
 short jumps toward some log or hiding-place before we were able 
 to capture them. So far as observed there, the habits of this 
 species were much like that of Hyla pickeringii. The other two 
 species of Rana, when started, would hasten toward the water ; 
 these I captured with the use of a 22 cal. revolver, using shot 
 cartridges. 
 

 
 

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