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ITTARK 
 
 OF THE 
 
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 PUBLICATION 142. 
 ZOOLOGICAL SERIES. VOL. VII, No. 9. 
 
 A SYNOPTIC LIST OF THE FISHES 
 
 KNOWN TO OCCUR WITHIN 
 
 FIFTY MILES OF CHICAGO. 
 
 BY 
 
 S. E. MEEK AND S. F. HILDEBRAND. 
 
 CHARLES B. CORY, 
 Curator of Department. 
 
 CHICAGO, U. S. A. 
 
 April, 1910. 
 
\ 
 
 o, 5" 
 
 V T. 
 
 
A SYNOPTIC LIST OF THE FISHES KNOWN TO 
 OCCUR WITHIN 50 MILES OF CHICAGO. 
 
 BY S. E. MEEK AND S. F. HILDEBRAND. 
 
 Owing to the many changes being made in this region on account 
 of the growth of the city, the local fish fauna and its consequent 
 changes are interesting. The present paper is intended to afford 
 students of the local fish-fauna, in and about Chicago, a ready means 
 for the identification of fishes which they may collect, and thus assist 
 in the study of their distribution, breeding and feeding habits, etc. A 
 considerable amount of study along these lines is necessary before one 
 is able to prepare a complete account of the fishes of this region. 
 
 In the following pages is given a list, together with keys and brief 
 descriptions, of the fishes which inhabit the lakes, streams, and la- 
 goons in and near Chicago. The general range of each species is 
 given, and a list of localities where each has been taken in the area in 
 question. Many of the descriptions have been drawn directly from 
 specimens taken within the area under discussion, and all have been 
 verified by the junior author with local material, so far as available. 
 In the preparation of this paper free use has been made of previous 
 publications by various authors. Considerable assistance has been 
 received from Dr. Shelford, Dr. Riddle, and their students from the 
 University of Chicago, also from Mr. A. P. Ford (formerly of Berwyn, 
 Illinois), chemist for the Crane Iron Works, Bridgeport, Conn. 
 
 Most of the illustrations used in this work are by permission of 
 its authors, taken from "The Fishes of Illinois," by S. A. Forbes and 
 R. E. Richardson; some are made from photographs of colored 
 plates, the others from cuts kindly loaned by Dr. Forbes. A few 
 illustrations are taken from U. S. Government publications. 
 
 It is hoped that the present paper may stimulate the study of 
 our local fishes and so be the forerunner of a much more complete 
 account of them. 
 
 The following notes and the accompanying figure are given to 
 explain the terms used in the descriptions : 
 
 i. Head. 2. Snout. 3. Eye. 4. Premaxillary. 5. Maxillary. 
 6. Supplemental maxillary. 7. Mandible, or lower jaw. 8. Symphysis. 
 
 223 
 
224 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO- MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 225 
 
 9. Cheek. 10. Preopercle. n. Opercle. 12. Subopercle. 13. Spin- 
 ous portion of dorsal fin. 14. Soft portion of dorsal fin. 15. Base 
 of dorsal fin. 16. Pectoral fin. 17. Anal fin. 18. Ventral fin. 19. 
 Base of caudal fin(last vertebra). 20. Caudal fin. 21. Lateral line. 
 22. Depth of the fish. 23. Depth of caudal peduncle. 24. Caudal 
 peduncle. 
 
 The PROFILE of the fish, unless otherwise mentioned, is the curve 
 from the highest point on the back to the tip of the snout. The ORI- 
 GIN of the DORSAL or ANAL FIN is the insertion of its first spine or ray. 
 
 Fishes in general, and especially those treated of in this paper, 
 breathe by means of GILLS, which are fine, hair-like projections 
 (BRANCHY), usually supported on the outer curves by cartilaginous 
 or bony arches known as GILL ARCHES; in the true fishes, the normal 
 number on each side is four. The GILL RAKERS are a series of bony 
 appendages variously formed along the inner edge of the anterior 
 gill arch. 
 
 The GILL MEMBRANES usually serve to attach the GILL COVERS 
 to the ISTHMUS, which is the thick, fleshy projection between the gill 
 openings. The BRANCHIOSTEGAL MEMBRANES are attached to the 
 lower posterior portions of the gill covers ; the cartilaginous or bony 
 supports of this membrane are the BRANCHIOSTEGAL RAYS. 
 
 The PHARYNGEAL BONES are behind the gills and at the beginning 
 of the CESOPHAGUS ; in the true fishes, they represent a fifth gill arch. 
 
 The fins of fishes are composed of SPINES and RAYS, the former 
 being stiff, bony structures usually connected by a thin membrane; 
 the rays are rather weak, jointed, cartilaginous structures, and are 
 also connected by a thin membrane. 
 
 A CYCLOID SCALE has its posterior margin smooth; such scales 
 are usually found on soft-rayed fishes. A CTENOID SCALE has its pos- 
 terior margin rough or toothed; such scales are characteristic of the 
 spiny-rayed fishes. 
 
 The LENGTH of the BODY of the FISH is measured from the tip of the 
 upper jaw to the base of the caudal fin or end of the last vertebra; the 
 TOTAL LENGTH, from the extreme ends of the fish. The LENGTH of 
 the HEAD is measured from tip of upper jaw to the posterior edge of 
 the opercle; the LENGTH of the SNOUT, from tip of upper jaw to an- 
 terior margin of the orbit. The DEPTH of the BODY is measured at its 
 deepest part, none of the fins being included; the DEPTH of CAUDAL 
 PEDUNCLE is measured at its narrowest part, its length from base of 
 last anal ray to end of last vertebra. 
 
 The SCALES in the LATERAL SERIES are counted from upper edge 
 
226 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 of opercle to base of caudal fin, the TRANSVERSE SERIES from the 
 dorsal fin to ventrals or origin of anal, whichever is nearest the middle 
 of the body. . In making the transverse count the scale on the lateral 
 line, when it is present, is counted with those on the upper part of the 
 body. The LENGTH of the DORSAL and ANAL FINS is measured along 
 their BASES; the HEIGHT is the length of their spines or rays. The 
 length of the other fins is measured from attachment to the body to 
 the tips of the longest rays. 
 
 In order to abbreviate, the following expressions are used: "HEAD 
 4" indicates that the head of the fish is contained 4 times in the dis- 
 tance from the tip of the snout to the end of the last caudal vertebra ; 
 "DEPTH 4" that the greatest depth (none of the fins being included) 
 is contained 4 times in the same distance; "D. 8" indicates that the 
 fish has a single dorsal fin which is composed of 8 soft rays; "D. iv, 
 9," that the dorsal fin is single and is composed of 4 spines and 9 soft 
 rays; " D. iv-g," that there are two dorsal fins, the first one composed 
 of 4 spines and the other of 9 soft rays. Spines are always indicated 
 in Roman letters, soft rays by figures. The abbreviations used in 
 the count of other fin rays and spines are similarly explained. The 
 diameter of the eye, the length of the snout, and many other short 
 measurements are compared with the length of the head. " Eye 3 
 in head," "Snout 3 in head," indicate that each is contained 3 times 
 in the length of the head. In these particular cases " % of the length 
 of the head" would mean the same thing. 
 
 When the last caudal vertebra is about the size of those preceding 
 and it ends in a broad plate (HypuraT) which supports the caudal fin, 
 the tail is called HOMOCERCAL; such belong to most of the true fishes, 
 as the catfishes, suckers, perch, bass, and the like. When the ver- 
 tebrae are progressively smaller, remaining in the axis of the body, 
 and the Hypural is obsolete or nearly so, the tail is ISOCERCAL; such 
 a tail belongs to the codfishes and their relatives. In the heterocercal 
 tail the vertebrae are progressively smaller, and are turned upward 
 into the upper part of the tail. This form of tail is found in the stur- 
 geon, the garpike, and the dogfish. 
 
 In the keys and descriptions external characters are used so far 
 as possible, our aim being to make identification as easy and accurate 
 and with the least amount of mutilation to the specimen in hand as 
 is practicable. 
 
 To successfully use this paper the student is advised to get a perch, 
 bass, or sunfish and make a careful study of its external anatomy, 
 much as suggested in the accompanying figure, and its description. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 227 
 
 The fishes or fish-like vertebrates of Chicago and its environs belong 
 to two classes: The Marsipobranchii, the lampreys, the hagfishes, 
 and the like; and the Pisces, the sharks, skates, and the true fishes. 
 Of the former but two species occur here; of the latter all are true 
 fishes, there being no sharks or skates. 
 
 The fishes, or fish-like vertebrates, may be defined briefly as cold- 
 blooded animals adapted for life in the water, breathing by means of 
 gills, which are persistent throughout life, and having the limbs, if 
 present, developed as fins, never with fingers and toes. 
 
 The two classes here mentioned may be defined briefly as follows : 
 
 A. Skull imperfectly developed, without true jaws ; gills purse-shaped, 
 not attached to arches ; a single median nostril ; body eel-shaped. 
 
 Marsipobranchii, 231 
 
 AA. Skull well developed, and with true jaws; gills attached to arches; 
 nostrils not median, in one or more pairs. Pisces, 234 
 
 KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF FISHES 
 
 a. Gill openings 7 on each side; mouth circular, disc-like; nostril 
 single, on top of head; no paired fins. Petromyzonida, 231 
 
 aa. Gill openings one on each side; mouth not disc-like; jaws pre- 
 sent ; nostrils in pairs. 
 
 b. Ventral fins, when present, abdominal. 
 
 c. Tail heterocercal, 
 
 d. Mouth under the projecting snout; body naked, or with 5 series 
 of bony plates. 
 
 e. Snout produced into a long oar-like blade ; opercle produced into 
 a long triangular flap; mouth large, not sucker-like. 
 
 Polyodontida , 234 
 
 ee. Snout triangular, not produced into an oar-like blade ; opercle 
 without triangular flap; mouth small, sucker-like. 
 
 Acipenseridtz, 235 
 
 dd. Mouth terminal, jaws about equal; body covered with hard 
 rhombic (ganoid) plates or scales. 
 
 f. Jaws long, beak-like; no gular plate; dorsal rays about 10 ; body 
 with rhombic plates. Lepisosteidce , 237 
 
 ff. Jaws shorter, not beak-like; a gular plate; dorsal rays about 
 50; body with cycloid scales. Amiatida, 238 
 
 cc. Tail homocercal or isocercal. 
 
228 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 g. Pectoral fins each with a strong spine; head with more than 
 4 barbels; body without scales. Silurida, 240 
 
 gg. Pectoral fins each without a strong spine ; head usually without 
 barbels, but when present never more than 4 ; body usually with 
 scales. 
 
 h. Ventral fins without spines, or with one spine and one soft ray; 
 anterior dorsal fin if composed of spines only, these not con- 
 nected by a membrane. 
 
 i. Scales if present cycloid, their free edges smooth. 
 
 j. Body with true scales or linear embedded ones; ventral fins, 
 when present, with more than 5 soft rays; no disconnected 
 dorsal spines. 
 
 k. Head without scales. 
 
 I. No dorsal adipose fin present. 
 
 m. Ventral surface not armed with bony serrae; lateral line present, 
 n. Teeth not present in jaws; anal fin short of less than 15 rays, 
 o. Dorsal fin with more than 10 rays; mouth usually inferior with 
 
 thick fleshy lips, with plicae or papillae; pharyngeal teeth in a 
 
 single row, more than 10. Catostomidce, 248 
 
 oo. Dorsal fin of fewer than 10 rays; mouth usually terminal, with 
 
 thin lips without plicae or papillae ; pharyngeal teeth in one or 
 
 two rows, fewer than 9. Cyprinidce, 257 
 
 nn. Teeth present in jaws; anal fin long, of more than 20 rays, 
 p. Body long and slender, eel-shaped; dorsal and anal fins long 
 
 and continuous with the caudal ; scales minute, linear. 
 
 AngmllidcB , 284 
 pp. Body deep, compressed, not eel-shaped; dorsal and anal fins not 
 
 continuous with the caudal ; scales large. Hiodontidce, 285 
 
 mm. Ventral surface armed with bony serrae ; lateral line wanting, 
 q. Dorsal fin with its last ray produced into a long filament; jaws 
 
 without teeth ; maxillary not in 3 pieces. Dorosomidce, 287 
 qq. Dorsal fin with its last ray not produced into a long filament; 
 
 jaws with weak teeth; maxillary in 3 pieces. Clupeida, 288 
 
 II. Dorsal adipose fin present. Salmonidce, 289 
 kk. Head more or less covered with scales. 
 
 r. Jaws long, with large canine-like teeth; lateral line present. 
 
 Esocida, 295 
 rr. Jaws short, without canine-like teeth; lateral line wanting, or 
 
 nearly so. 
 
 s. Upper jaw not protractile. Umbridce, 297 
 
 ss. Upper jaw protractile. Paeciliid(z, 298 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 229 
 
 jj. Body without scales; ventral fins each of one spine and one 
 soft ray ; dorsal fin with 2 or more spines not connected by a 
 membrane. Gasterosteidce, 302 
 
 ii. Scales ctenoid their free edges rough; dorsal fins 2, the posterior 
 adipose. Percopsidce, 303 
 
 hh. Ventral fins composed of one spine and 5 soft rays; anterior 
 dorsal fin of 4 to 10 spines connected by a membrane; body 
 scaly. Aikerinidcz , 304 
 
 bb. Ventral fins thoracic or jugular. 
 
 t. Ventral rays of one spine and 6 or 7 soft rays; vent before 
 pectoral fins. Aphredoderida, 305 
 
 tt. Ventral rays not more than one spine and 5 soft rays. 
 
 u. Chin without a barbel; soft dorsal fin of less than 40 rays; ven- 
 tral fins below or behind pectorals. 
 
 v. Body covered with true scales. 
 
 w. Lateral line not extending on the caudal fin ; soft dorsal of less 
 than 25 rays; jaws with teeth. 
 
 x. Spinous and soft dorsal fins united into one fin, the spinous por- 
 tion lower than soft portion ; preopercle usually not serrate. 
 
 CentrarchidcB , 306 
 
 xx. Dorsal fins separate or very slightly joined; the fins of about 
 
 equal height, 
 y. Anal fin with i or 2 spines. Percida, 317 
 
 yy. Anal fin with 3 spines. Serranidce, 332 
 
 ww. Lateral line extending on the caudal fin; soft dorsal of more 
 
 than 25 rays; jaws without teeth. Sciaenida, 334 
 
 vv. Body without true scales; more or less armed with prickles or a 
 few scale-like plates ; cheeks with a bony stay ; ventral rays of 
 one spine and 3 or 4 soft rays. Cottida, 335 
 
 uu. Chin with a barbel; soft dorsal fin composed of more than 
 40 rays. Gadida, 338 
 
Class MARSIPOBRANCHII. 
 
 THE LAMPREYS AND HAGFISHES. 
 
 Skeleton cartilaginous; skull not separate from the imperfectly 
 segmented vertebral column; no true jaws; no limbs; no shoulder 
 girdle; no pelvic elements, and no ribs; gills purse-shaped, without 
 gill arches; 6 or more gill openings on each side; nostril single, on top 
 of the head; heart without arterial bulb; alimentary canal straight, 
 simple, without coecal appendages, pancreas, or spleen; naked, eel 
 shaped animals. 
 
 Order Hyperoartil, 
 
 Nasal duct a blind sac not communicating with the palate ; mouth 
 nearly circular, suctorial ; seven gill openings on each side of the neck. 
 
 Family i. Petromyzonidse. 
 
 THE LAMPREYS. 
 
 Body eel-shaped, somewhat compressed posteriorly; mouth nearly 
 circular, suctorial, and armed with horny, tooth-like, simple or multi- 
 cuspid tubercles ; those just above and below oral opening, and those 
 on tongue more or less specialized ; lips or margin of mouth fringed. 
 A. Supraoral cusps 2 or 3, placed close together; dorsal fin with 
 a broad notch. Ichthyomyzon, 231 
 
 AA. Supraoral cusps 2, each at end of a crescent-shaped plate; oc- 
 casionally a rudimentary median cusp; dorsal fin with sharp 
 notch. Lampetra, 232 
 
 Genus Ichthyomyzon Girard. 
 RIVER LAMPREYS. 
 
 Supraoral plate, with 2 or 3 cusps placed near each other; anterior 
 lingual tooth with a median groove.; dorsal fin with a broad shallow 
 notch. Small lampreys inhabiting lakes and rivers of eastern United 
 
 States. 
 
 231 
 
232 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Ichthyomyzon concolor (Kirtland). SILVERY LAMPREY. 
 
 Head 6.5 to 8.3; depth 9.8 to 13.8. Body elongate, eel-shaped; 
 mouth a suctorial disc, anterior and slightly inferior and with mar- 
 ginal fringe; supraoral plate usually bicuspid, occasionally with i, 
 3 or 4 cusps; infraoral plate with 7 to 9 cusps, occasionally with 10 
 to 13 ; anterior lingual tooth with a median groove; diameter of eye 
 6 to 8 in head; muscular impressions between last gill opening and 
 vent 49 to 55-; dorsal fin continuous with the caudal. 
 
 Color silvery, bluish above, sometimes with bluish spots; a small 
 dusky spot above each gill opening. 
 
 Length about 10 inches. 
 
 This lamprey occurs in the Great Lake Region and the Upper 
 Mississippi Valley; it is parasitic on all larger fishes, but prefers fishes 
 without scales, as the catfishes, or the soft-scaled, as the suckers, to 
 the hard-scaled fishes, like the basses and perch. 
 
 It ascends small brooks in the spring to spawn, after which it is 
 believed to die. The eggs deposited in nests on the bottom of the 
 streams soon hatch, and the small worm-like larva burrows in the 
 sand, where it remains from 3 to 5 years, when it emerges as a full 
 grown lamprey. Often found in the pound nets set at south end of 
 Lake Michigan. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Whiting, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Edgemoor, 
 Indiana. 
 
 Genus Lampetra Gray. 
 BROOK LAMPREYS. 
 
 Supraoral plate, crescent-shaped, with a cusp at end, with occa- 
 sionally a small median cusp; anterial lingual tooth with median en- 
 larged denticli; dorsal fin with a sharp notch or entirely divided. 
 Small lampreys inhabiting brooks and small streams of Europe and 
 eastern North America. 
 
 Lampetra wilderi (Gage). BROOK LAMPREY; SMALL BLACK LAMPREY. 
 Head 7.9 to 8.7; depth 13 to 16. Body elongate, eel-shaped; 
 mouth a suctorial disc, anterior, and slightly inferior, and with mar- 
 ginal fringe of closely set tubercles ; supraoral plate with cusp at each 
 end, separated by a distance nearly twice the width of base of a single 
 cusp; infraoral plate with 6 or 7 cusps, the extreme ones much larger 
 than the others ; 3 lateral cusps on each side of the mouth bicuspid, the 
 others simple ; diameter of eye 5 to 7 in head ; muscular impressions 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 233 
 
 between the last gill opening and vent 70 to 73 ; dorsal fin divided by 
 a deep notch or a narrow space. 
 
 Length 6 to 10 inches. 
 
 This lamprey ranges from New York to the Great Lakes and Upper 
 Mississippi Valley. Its habits are quite similar to the preceding. It 
 spawns in April. The time after this species emerges from its larval 
 stage to its spawning time is so short that it is doubtful if it is ever 
 parasitic on fishes ; not recorded from the Chicago area. 
 
Class PISCES. 
 
 Skeleton more or less ossified ; skull well developed, separate from 
 the segmented vertebral column; mouth with true jaws; limbs, 
 shoulder, and pelvic bones usually present; usually less than 6 gill 
 openings on each side; gills attached to imperfect skeletal arches; 
 nostrils one or more pairs ; heart with arterial bulb ; alimentary canal 
 variable in form, and with pancreas and spleen; tail heterocercal, 
 homocercal, or isocercal. 
 
 Order Selachostomi. 
 
 THE PADDLE-FISHES. 
 
 Skeleton chiefly cartilaginous, the vertebrae imperfectly formed, 
 acentrous; anterior vertebrae single; ventral fins abdominal; max- 
 illary obsolete; air bladder cellular, with open duct to oesophagus; 
 snout long and paddle-shaped; tail heterocercal. 
 
 Family Pol yodont i<hr. 
 
 THE PADDLE-FISHES. 
 
 Body elongate, not covered with scales or bony plates; ventral fins 
 abdominal ; fins without spines ; opercle and subopercle small ; 
 mouth large, its border formed by premaxillaries ; maxillaries obsolete ; 
 snout long, paddle-shaped; 2 pairs of minute barbels on snout, just 
 in front of the mouth; jaws and palatines in young with numerous 
 fine deciduous teeth; intestine with spiral valve; pyloric coeca broad, 
 leaf-like ; arterial bulb with several pairs of valves. 
 
 Genus Polyodoii Lacepede. 
 
 Gill-rakers numerous, very long and slender; caudal fulcra of 
 moderate size, 13 to 20 in number; opercle produced into a long 
 triangular flap. 
 
 234 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 235 
 
 Polyodon spathula (Walbaum). PADDLE-FISH; SPOONBILL CAT. 
 
 Head (from tip of snout to end of opercular flap) 1.5 to 1.7 ; depth 
 4 to 4.8 (without snout); A. 60. Body fusiform, little compressed; 
 skin smooth; snout broad, its greatest width 3.4 to 4.3 in its length; 
 opercle with long flap; its tip reaching ventrals (adults) or nearly 
 to front of dorsal (young) ; gill rakers long and slender, in a double 
 series on each arch; no scales; tip of caudal peduncle and sides of 
 upper caudal lobe with small elongate rhombic plates. 
 
 Color pale to dusky, or bluish olive. 
 
 Length about 6 to 8 feet. 
 
 This fish lives in the larger rivers and in bayous. It is not native 
 to Lake Michigan, but is reported to have been taken there. 
 
 Order Chondrostei, 
 
 THE STURGEONS. 
 
 Skeleton chiefly cartilaginous; vertebrae simple and acentrous, 
 the notochord persistent; ventral fins abdominal; opercular series 
 represented by an opercle and interopercle; maxillary present; air 
 bladder simple; connected by a duct with the oesophagus. 
 
 Family Acipenseridse. 
 
 THE STURGEONS. 
 
 Body elongate, armed with 5 longitudinal rows of bony plates, 
 head covered with bony plates ; ventral fins abdominal ; fins without 
 spines; gills 4; an accessory opercular gill; nostrils double, in front 
 of eye; optic nerves forming a chiasma; mouth inferior, protractile, 
 with thickened papillose lips ; 4 barbels in front of mouth ; stomach 
 without pyloric cceca; intestine with spiral valve; arterial bulb with 
 several pairs of valves. 
 
 Genus Acipenser Linnaeus. 
 
 Snout conical; caudal peduncle short, roundish, and not entirely 
 covered with bony plates ; spiracles and pseudobranchs present ; gill- 
 rakers lance-shaped ; air bladder well developed, not cellular. 
 
236 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 LAKE STURGEON 
 
 Acipenser rubicundus Le Sueur. 
 
 Head 3.1 to 3.8; depth 7 to 7.8; D. 35 to 36; A. 25 to 28. Body 
 elongate, cylindrical; snout subconical, convex above, flattened be- 
 low, overhanging the mouth, 2 to 2.4 in head; eye small, 3.3 to 4.2 in 
 head ; lips 2-lobed ; gill membranes united to the isthmus ; barbels of 
 nearly equal length; dorsal scutes 12 to 16; lateral 32 to 43; ventral 
 8 to 10. These almost entirely disappear in specimens of 150 pounds 
 weight; upper caudal lobe the longer, not produced into a filament; 
 caudal fulcra numerous. 
 
 Color dark olive above; sides paler to reddish; body often with 
 irregular blackish blotches. Length 6 to 12 feet. 
 
 FIG. 17. LAKE STURGEON. 
 
 Acipenser rubicundus Le Sueur. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 This sturgeon inhabits large streams and lakes of the Upper Mis- 
 sissippi Valley, the Great Lakes and northward. About twenty-five 
 years ago it was abundant in the lakes near Chicago. There was 
 no market for it then and many were buried in the sand to get rid of 
 them. At present it is quite rare and sells in the market for double 
 the price of the best fish found in Lake Michigan. The sturgeon 
 spawns in the spring. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; 
 Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Order Rhomboganoidea. 
 
 THE GARPIKES. 
 
 Skeleton ossified; vertebrae connected by ball and socket joints, 
 the cavity of each vertebra being posterior ; ventral fins abdominal ; 
 fins without spines; opercular skeleton complete; maxillary present; 
 air bladder cellular, lung-like, opening into the side of the oesophagus. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 237 
 
 Family Lepisosteidae. 
 
 Body elongate, subcylindrical, covered with hard rhombic ganoid 
 scales or plates, imbricated, in oblique series running downward and 
 backward; premaxillary forming most of the upper jaw; jaws long, 
 beak-like; teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines, some of the teeth in 
 the jaws large and canine-like; tail heterocercal ; an accessory gill on 
 under side of opercle; spiral valve of intestine rudimentary. 
 
 Genus L/episosteus Lacepede. 
 GAR PIKES. 
 
 Jaws with one or more series of teeth, some being enlarged and fit- 
 ting into a depression in the opposite jaw; usually some of the anterior 
 teeth movable ; teeth on vomer and palatines ; in the young the an- 
 terior teeth are usually enlarged. 
 
 a. Jaws long and slender; snout more than twice the length of the 
 
 head. osseus, 237 
 
 aa. Jaws shorter and broader, little longer than the rest of the 
 
 head. platostomus, 238 
 
 Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus). LONG-NOSED GAR; BILLFISH. 
 
 Head 2.7 to 3.1; depth 10 to 13; D. 8 or 9; A. 8 or 9; scales 60 
 to 63. Body elongate, cylindrical; jaws long, slender, beak-like; 
 more than twice the length of the rest of the head ; greatest width of 
 snout 6, least width 20 in its length; young with upper lobe of caudal 
 prolonged into a filament. 
 
 Color pale olive, silvery below; vertical fins and posterior part of 
 the body with round black spots, more distinct in the young; very 
 young with a black lateral band. 
 
 Length from 3 to 5 feet. 
 
 It inhabits the larger streams and lakes, ranging from the Upper 
 Mississippi Valley, and the Great Lakes to Florida and the Rio Grande 
 in Mexico. It is active, feeding on minnows and the young of other 
 fishes. It spawns in the spring, usually in May or June. In this area 
 it has been taken in Lake Michigan and in the Des Plaines and Fox 
 rivers. 
 
 Not used for food except in the southern part of its range. 
 
 Fox Lake, Illinois; Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Lake Michigan, 
 Millers, Indiana. 
 
238 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque. SHORT-NOSED GAR. 
 
 Head 3 to 3. 9; depth 8 to 10; D. 8; A. 8; scales 60 to 64. Similar 
 to the preceding but with a much shorter and broader beak ; greatest 
 width of beak 2.3, its least width 5.5 in its length. 
 
 Color dark olive green above ; belly white ; dorsal caudal and anal 
 each with roundish dark spots; young with a broad black lateral band. 
 
 Length 2 to 3 feet. 
 
 Common in the Mississippi Valley, being more abundant in the 
 southern part of its range. In appearance and habits it resembles 
 the former species in this area. 
 
 Order Cycloganoidea, 
 
 Skeleton bony; vertebrae biconcave, the anterior ones not modi- 
 fied; ventral fins abdominal; opercle, preopercle, interopercle, and 
 subopercle present; maxillary present; air bladder bifid anteriorly, 
 cellular, lung-like; tail heterocercal. 
 
 Family Amiatidee. 
 
 Body elongate, subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly, 
 covered with hard cycloid scales; head with external bones very 
 hard and scarcely covered by skin; jaws, vomer, palatines, and ptery- 
 goids with teeth ; fins without spines or fulcra ; air bladder connected 
 by a glottis with the pharynx, and able to assist in respiration ; a bony 
 gular plate between the branches of the lower jaw; stomach a blind 
 sac, without pyloric coeca; intestine with a rudimentary spiral valve. 
 
 Genus Amiatus Linnaeus. 
 DOG FISH; BOWFIN. " JOHN A. GRINDLE." 
 Dorsal fin long; its base twice the length of the head. 
 
 Amiatus calva Linnaeus. DOG FISH; BOWFIN; GRINDLE. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 4.3 ; depth 4.6 to 6.2; 0.47 to 51; A. 9 to 10; scales 
 66 to 68. Body elongate, compressed posteriorly; head subconic, 
 depressed; mouth large, maxillary reaching to vertical behind eye; 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 239 
 
 eye small, its diameter 8.8 to 10.3 in head. A pair of short nasal bar- 
 bels, cupped at the tips; caudal fin rounded; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color dark olive above; lighter on sides and ventral region; the 
 mingling of the darker and lighter forming reticulations on the sides ; 
 dorsal fin with dark band near base and one near tip; sometimes 
 broken into short bars; caudal fin with dark bars; pectoral, ventral, 
 
 FIG. 18. DOG FISH: BOWFIN; "JOHN A. GRINDLE." 
 
 Amiatus calva Linnaeus. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 and anal fins green or greenish ; males with a black spot with yellowish 
 border at base of upper caudal rays ; males smaller than the females. 
 
 Length i% to 2 feet. 
 
 This species ranges from the Great Lakes to Florida and Texas. 
 It is most abundant in sluggish waters with weedy bottoms. It feeds 
 on fishes, crayfishes, mollusks, and is to some extent a scavenger. It 
 is a game fish of some importance, but though marketed it is regarded 
 as an inferior food fish. It spawns in stagnant water from April to 
 July. Common in all sluggish water in the Chicago area. 
 
 Fox Lake, Illinois; Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Calumet 
 River, Clark, Indiana; Deep River, Liverpool, Indiana. 
 
 Order Nemafognathi, 
 
 THE WHISKERED FISHES. 
 
 Skeleton bony, the 4 anterior vertebras coosified; ventral fins 
 abdominal ; dorsal and pectoral fins each with anterior rays modified 
 into a hard spine; subopercle absent; margin of upper jaw formed 
 by premaxillary ; maxillary often rudimentary and supporting the 
 base of a barbel ; air bladder with duct ; arterial bulb with a pair of 
 opposite valves; optic nerves do not form a solid chiasma; intestine 
 without spiral valve. 
 
240 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Family Siluridre. 
 THE CATFISHES. 
 
 Body more or less elongate; no true scales; 2 dorsal fins, the pos- 
 terior being adipose; upper and lower jaws with barbels, resembling 
 the whiskers on a cat (whence the name catfish) ; dorsal and pectoral 
 fins each with a strong spine. 
 
 a. Adipose fin short, with the posterior margin free and distinct 
 from the caudal fin. 
 
 b. Band of teeth on upper jaw (premaxillary) without lateral 
 backward extensions; anal rays 17 to 35. 
 
 c. Bony bridge from snout to dorsal fin complete; tail deeply 
 forked. Ictalurus, 240 
 
 cc. Bony bridge from snout to dorsal fin not complete ; tail rounded, 
 or slightly emarginate to moderately forked (in the Great Lake 
 species). Ameiurus, 241 
 
 bb. Band of teeth on upper jaw with a lateral backward extension 
 on each side; anal rays 12 to 15. Leptops, 244 
 
 aa. Adipose fin adnate to the back, and separated from caudal fin 
 . by a notch. 
 
 d. Band of teeth on upper jaw with lateral backward extensions. 
 
 Noturus, 244 
 
 dd. Band of teeth on upper jaw without lateral backward exten- 
 sions. Schilbeodes, 245 
 
 Genus Ictalurus Rafinesque. 
 
 CHANNEL CATS. 
 Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). CHANNEL CAT; FIDDLER. 
 
 Head 3. 6 to 4; depth 2.4 to 5.0; D. 1-6; A. 24 to 29. Body long, 
 slender, compressed posteriorly; head subconic; interorbital space 
 
 FIG. 19- CHANNEL CAT; FIDDLER. 
 
 Ictalurus punctatus (Raf .) . (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 241 
 
 flat or slightly convex; mouth terminal, the upper jaw slightly the 
 longer; maxillary barbels long and slender, their tips reaching past 
 gill opening; eye nearer upper than lower surface of the head, its di- 
 ameter 4 to 8 in head; dorsal fin high, its distance from snout 2.5 to 
 2.7 in length; caudal fin deeply forked, the upper lobe longer and 
 more slender than the lower. 
 
 Color light grayish green above, below silvery; back and sides with 
 small, round, irregularly distributed dark spots. 
 
 This fish reaches a weight of 15 to 20 pounds, but those usually 
 taken for the market seldom reach a weight of 4 or 5 pounds. 
 
 It inhabits clear water from the Great Lake Region to Louisiana 
 and Mexico, preferring river channels to still water. An excellent food 
 and a fair game fish. 
 
 Deep River, Liverpool, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Ameiurus Rafinesque. 
 BULLHEADS; HORNED POUTS. 
 
 Body moderately elongate, robust anteriorly, compressed posteri- 
 orly; supraoccipital bone separate from the second interspinal buck- 
 ler, forming a break in bony bridge from snout to dorsal fin ; mouth 
 large; teeth in jaws in broad bands, the band in upper jaw not form- 
 ing backward extensions; caudal fin short, its margin rounded to 
 slightly forked. 
 
 a. Caudal fin moderately forked; anal rays 24; species large. 
 
 lacustris, 242 
 
 aa. Caudal fin rounded, truncate, or slightly emarginate; species 
 small, usually less than 12 inches in length. 
 
 b. Anal rays 24 to 27; caudal fin rounded. natalis, 242 
 bb. Anal rays 17 to 24; caudal fin slightly emarginate. 
 
 c. Anal rays 21 to 24; pectoral spine in young with 5 to 10 well 
 developed teeth on its posterior edge, these reduced in size in 
 adults, the number increasing to from 15 to 20; anal fin with 
 membrane and rays about equally colored, the former slightly 
 the darker on distal third. nebulosus, 242 
 
 cc. Anal rays 17 to 20; pectoral spine at all ages entire or slightly 
 roughened behind, or rarely in adults with 5 to 10 obscure, 
 weak, and blunt teeth on its posterior edge; anal fin with the 
 membranes uniformly colored and darker than the rays. 
 
 melas, 243 
 
. 
 242 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Ameiurus lacustris (Walbaum). GREAT LAKE CATFISH. 
 
 Head 3. 8; depth 4.5; D. 1-6; A. 24. Body robust; head broad, 
 depressed, its width 1.2 in its length; interorbital space flat, 1.8 in 
 head; diameter of eye 8.3 in head; upper jaw the longer; dorsal fin 
 to snout 2.7 in body, its spine short, bluntly pointed, its posterior edge 
 entire; pectoral spine weakly serrate behind; caudal fin moderately 
 forked. 
 
 Color dark slaty to bluish black above, paler below; body without 
 dusky spots ; anal dusky edged. 
 
 It reaches a weight of 40 pounds. 
 
 This species inhabits the Great Lake Region. 
 
 This fish is frequently taken in Deep River at Liverpool, Indiana 
 and is occasionally taken on set lines and in pound nets at Millers 
 and Pine, Indiana; individuals are sometimes caught in the park 
 lagoons within the city when taking the carp from these waters. 
 
 Ameiurus natalis (LeSueur). YELLOW BULLHEAD. 
 
 Head 3.1 to 3.5; depth 3.5 to 3.9; D. 1-6; A. 24 to 27. Body 
 very robust; head large, broad, somewhat depressed; its -greatest 
 width about equal to its length; eye small, its diameter 7.2 to 8.5 in 
 head; upper jaw slightly longer than the lower; maxillary barbels 
 reaching about to posterior edge of opercles; dorsal fin small, low; ' 
 caudal fin rounded posteriorly. 
 
 Color yellow, brown, green, or black above; yellowish to pale below. 
 
 Length 12 to 18 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Dakota to New York, Florida, and Texas. 
 
 Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Lagoon, Clark Junction, Indiana. 
 
 Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). COMMON BULLHEAD; SPECKLED 
 
 BULLHEAD; HORNED POUT. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 3.6; depth 3.5 to 4.3 ; D. 1-6; A. 21 to 24. 
 
 Body elongate to moderately robust; head subconic, rather nar- 
 row, its greatest width 1.2 to* 1.3 in its length; upper jaw slightly 
 longer than the lower; maxillary barbel reaching beyond gill opening, 
 often beyond humeral process; pectoral spine 1.8 to 2.4 in head, the 
 posterior edge with 6 to 10 (young) to 10 to 25 (adults) well developed 
 retrorse teeth, shorter when more numerous; base of anal fin 3.2 to 
 4.1 in body; free margin of fin but little rounded from 8th to isth 
 ray; caudal fin slightly emarginate. 
 
 Color dark yellowish to much marbled or mottled with darker to 
 nearly black; anal fin with membrane and rays of nearly the same 
 color. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 243 
 
 Length about 18 inches. 
 
 It inhabits lowland streams and ponds from Minnesota to Maine 
 and Texas. This species spawns in the spring. For some time after 
 the young are hatched they swim in a brood, accompanied by the 
 mother. A good food fish. 
 
 Des Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, 
 Illinois; Butterfield Creek, Elliotts Park, Illinois; Lagoon, Buffing- 
 ton, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark Junction, Indiana. 
 
 Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque). BLACK BULLHEAD. 
 
 Head 3.1 to 3.5 ; depth 3.1 to 3.5; D. 1-6; A. 17 to 20. 
 
 Body robust, head large, profile slightly convex, its width j.i to 
 1.2 in its length; mouth wide, the jaws about equal; maxillary bar- 
 bels reaching to or slightly beyond gill opening; pectoral spine short, 
 rather blunt, its length 2.4 to 3.6 in head; posterior edge of pectoral 
 
 FIG 20. BLACK BULLHEAD. 
 
 Ameiurus melas (Raf.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 spine entire or slightly roughened; seldom with 5 to 10 weak teeth 
 in adults; base of anal fin 3.9 to 4.4 in body, its free margin distinctly 
 rounded ; caudal fin slightly emarginate. 
 
 Color dark brown or greenish to black above, becoming lighter or 
 yellowish below; anal rays very light in contrast with black inter- 
 radial membranes. 
 
 Length 12 inches. 
 
 Found usually with the preceding from New York to Kansas and 
 Texas, which it much resembles in appearance and habits. 
 
 Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, 
 Berwyn, Illinois; Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Thorn Creek, 
 Thornton, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; 
 Calumet River, Clark Junction, Indiana; Lagoon, Clark, Indiana. 
 
244 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Genus Leptops Rafinesque. 
 
 Body elongate, much depressed anteriorly; head large, wide; 
 supraoccipital bony bridge incomplete ; teeth in broad bands on both 
 jaws, those of the upper jaw continued backward on each side; lower 
 jaw the longer; caudal fin oblong, subtruncate, with numerous short 
 rays at upper and lower margins. 
 
 Leptops olivaris (Rafinesque). MUD CAT; YELLOW CAT; GOUJON; 
 
 MORGAN CAT. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 4; depth 4.4 to 5.2; D. 1-6; A. 12 to 15. 
 
 Body elongate; head long and broad, much depressed; its width 
 3.7 to 4.4 in body; interorbital space nearly flat, its width 3.7 to 4.4 
 in body; lower jaw the longer; lips thin; maxillary barbels not 
 reaching gill openings; eye small, its diameter 8 to 14 in head; per- 
 toral spine short, 3 to 4.4 in head, its anterior and posterior edges 
 roughened or weakly serrate ; caudal fin subtruncate. 
 
 Color usually dark olive to yellowish above; lighter yellowish to 
 gray below; young mottled. 
 
 It reaches a weight of 50 to 75 pounds. 
 
 This fish inhabits the larger streams of the Mississippi Valley, 
 south to Northern Mexico. It is a good food fish. Spawns in May 
 and later. 
 
 Genus Noturus Rafinesque. 
 STONE CAT. 
 
 Body elongate, head broad flattened above; posterior part of body 
 nearly cylindrical; adipose dorsal long and attached for its entire 
 length ; separated from caudal fin by a notch ; band of teeth in upper 
 jaw with lateral backward extensions; a poison gland at base of 
 pectoral fin. 
 
 Noturus flavus Rafinesque. STONE CAT. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 3.9; depth 4.0 to 5.0; D. 1-6; A. 16. 
 
 Body elongate, its anterior half broad and flattened, its posterior 
 cylindrical ; tail compressed ; head broad, its width 4 to 5 in length 
 of body; upper jaw the longer; maxillary barbels short, about half 
 length of head; diameter of eye 4 to 6 in head; dorsal fin to tip of 
 snout 2.4 to 2.8 in body; the spine short, its length 3 in height of fin; 
 pectoral spine with a few weak retrorse teeth on its anterior edge near 
 tip, the posterior edge smooth or nearly so; caudal fin rounded. 
 
APRIL, igio. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 245 
 
 Color dark olive green above, sides yellowish, below white; a 
 blotch of yellowish before and behind dorsal; fins color of adjacent 
 parts with edges lighter. 
 
 Length 10 to 12 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits rather swift running water from Virginia, the 
 Great Lakes, to Montana and Texas. 
 
 This species deposits its eggs in June under objects in the water, 
 guarding them till hatched. It is not used for food. 
 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Schilbeodes Bleeker. 
 MAD TOMS. 
 
 Body short or moderately elongate, its anterior half subcylindrical, 
 the tail compressed; adipose dorsal long and attached for its entire 
 length, continuous with caudal or separated by a notch; teeth in 
 broad bands, those of upper jaw without lateral backward extensions; 
 caudal fin rounded with numerous short rays above and below caudal 
 peduncle; a poison gland at base of pectoral fin. All of the species 
 of this genus are too small to be used for food. 
 
 a. Pectoral spine not serrated on posterior margin; adipose fin 
 continuous with caudal; depth of body 3.8 to 4.4 in its length. 
 
 gyrinus, 245 
 
 aa. Pectoral spine distinctly serrated on its posterior edge ; adipose 
 fin separated from caudal by a notch; depth of body 4.6 to 6.0 
 in its length. 
 
 b. Pectoral spine 3 in head; a light colored squarish blotch on 
 back before dorsal and a smaller crescentic one behind it. 
 
 exilis, 246 
 
 bb. Pectoral spine less than 2 in head; 4 saddle-like blotches on 
 back. miurus, 247 
 
 Schilbeodes gyrinus (Mitchill). TADPOLE CAT. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 3.9; depth 3.8 to 4.4; D. 1-6; A. 13 to 15. 
 
 Body robust, tadpole-like in form; head large; profile steep and 
 nearly straight from snout to dorsal; jaws equal; maxillary barbels 
 scarcely reaching gill openings; diameter of eye 6.3 to 7.6 in head; 
 dorsal fin to tip of snout 2.5 to 2.9 in length of body; its spine more 
 than % height of fin; pectoral spine strong, its length 1.9 to 2.4 in 
 head, its edges smooth or the anterior with 2 or 3 obscure teeth; lat- 
 eral line imperfect, and wanting on posterior half of body. 
 
246 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Color olivaceous to almost black, top of head darker; a dark streak 
 on middle of side and one near ventral surface ; pectoral and ventral 
 fins dusky, other fins plain. 
 
 Length 3 to 5 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits small sluggish streams and ponds from the 
 Rainy River eastward through the Upper Mississippi Valley to the 
 Hudson River, Florida, and Alabama. It probably spawns in May 
 It feeds on small crustaceans and insects. 
 
 Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; La- 
 goon, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, 
 Illinois; Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Calumet Lake, Pullman, 
 Illinois; Lake George, Indiana; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Lagoon, 
 Clark Junction, Indiana. 
 
 Schilbeodes exilis (Nelson). SLENDER STONE CAT. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.3; depth 4.9 to 6.0; D. 1-6; A. 14 to 17. 
 
 Body elongate, the head slightly depressed; caudal region com- 
 pressed ; head small ; upper jaw slightly the longer; maxillary barbels 
 not reaching gill openings; diameter of eye 5.3 to 7.3 in head; dorsal 
 fin to tip of snout 2.9 to 3.1 in length, its spine scarcely half the height 
 of the fin; pectoral spine 2.7 to 3.1 in head; weakly serrate anteriorly 
 near tip, the basal ^ of its posterior margin with about 6 slender 
 teeth ; caudal fin rounded. 
 
 FIG. 21. SLENDER STONE CAT. 
 
 Schilbeodes exilis (Nelson). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color yellowish brown, uniform on sides, darker above with a 
 lighter squarish spot on occiput and a crescentic one behind dorsal; 
 fins pale or slightly dusky with darker margins. 
 
 Length 3 to 4 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits small streams, with clear running water, from 
 Wisconsin to Indiana and Kansas. 
 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 247 
 
 Schilbeodes miurus (Jordan). BRINDLED STONE CAT. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 3.9 ; depth 4.6 to 5.6 ; D. 1-6 ; A. 13 to 15. 
 
 Body elongate, broad anteriorly, slender and compressed posteri- 
 orly; head wide, depressed anteriorly; upper jaw slightly longer 
 than the lower; maxillary barbels scarcely reaching gill openings; 
 diameter of eye 4.3 to 5.0 in head; dorsal fin to tip of snout 2.6 to 2.8 
 in the length ; dorsal spine more than half the length of the fin ; pec- 
 toral spine 1.5 to 1.8 in head, curved, the basal z /$ of anterior edge 
 finely serrate, the posterior margin with 6 to 8 strong hook-like teeth ; 
 caudal fin rounded. 
 
 FIG. 22. BRINDLED STONE CAT. 
 
 Schilbeodes miurus (Jordan). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color grayish with small black spots, the back crossed by saddle- 
 like blotches, one before dorsal, one behind it, one on adipose fin and 
 one at base of caudal; tip of dorsal, caudal, and anal blackish. 
 
 Length 3^ inches. 
 
 This species inhabits small clear streams and ponds from Lake 
 Michigan to Louisiana. 
 
 Order Eveiitognathi. 
 
 THE CARP-LIKE FISHES. 
 
 Skeleton osseous, the anterior vertebrae modified and with Weberian 
 apparatus; opercular bones present; jaws without teeth; ventral fins 
 abdominal; air bladder with open duct; body usually covered with 
 ordinary scales. 
 
 a. Pharyngeal teeth numerous, comb-like; dorsal fin of more than 
 10 rays; lips thick, covered with plicate or papillose skin. 
 
 Catostomida, 248 
 
248 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 aa. Pharyngeal teeth fewer, 4 to 8 on each bone; dorsal fin of less 
 than 10 rays; lips without thickened skin. Cyprinidce, 257 
 
 Family Catostomidse. 
 
 THE SUCKERS. 
 
 Body oblong or elongate, usually more or less compressed and 
 covered with large cycloid scales; fins without true spines; gill 
 membranes united to the isthmus ; pseudobranchias present ; branchi- 
 ostegals 3 ; margin of upper jaw formed in the middle by the small 
 premaxillaries and on sides by maxillaries; lower pharyngeal bones 
 falciform and with a single row of comb-like teeth ; mouth with thick 
 lips covered with plicate or papillose skin ; fins without spines ; caudal 
 fin forked; no pyloric cceca; air bladder in 2 or 3 parts, connected to 
 oesophagus. 
 
 a. Dorsal fin elongate, of more than 20 developed rays. 
 
 b. Mouth large, more or less terminal, protractile forward; 
 * pharyngeal teeth and bones moderate; coloration, dark. 
 
 Ictiobus, 249 
 
 bb. Mouth smaller, inferior, protractile downward; pharyngeal 
 bones narrow, with the teeth thin and weak; coloration, pale. 
 
 Carpiodes, 250 
 aa. Dorsal fin shorter, of less than 20 rays. 
 
 c. Lips plicate. 
 
 d. Lateral line wanting or imperfectly developed ; sides with dark 
 band or dark lateral stripes ; air bladder in 2 parts. 
 
 e. Lateral line entirely wanting; sides with a single dark lateral 
 band. Erimyzon, 251 
 
 ee. Lateral line incomplete; sides with dark lateral stripes along 
 the rows of scales. Minytrema, 252 
 
 dd. Lateral line complete; sides without dark lateral band or 
 lateral stripes ; air bladder in 3 parts. 
 
 f . Pharyngeal teeth compressed ; mouth wholly inferior. 
 
 Moxostoma, 253 
 
 ff. Pharyngeal teeth large, molar-like; mouth somewhat oblique. 
 
 "\(Placo pharynx) 
 
 * The pharyngeal bones are situated on either side of the oesophagus just 
 back of the gill arches. 
 
 t Placopharynx duquesnii (Le Sueur) probably does not occur in the waters 
 in and about Chicago. In form and appearance it resembles the common red- 
 horse, with which it is often identified, but from which it is easily separated 
 because of its molar-like pharyngeal teeth. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 249 
 
 cc. Lips papillose; air bladder in 2 parts; scales 48 to no. 
 
 Catostom us, 255 
 
 Genus Ictiobus Rafinesque. 
 
 THE BUFFALO FISHES. 
 
 Body robust, compressed, both dorsal and ventral outlines curved ; 
 head rather large; mouth terminal or slightly inferior; lips thin, 
 plain or more or less plicate; the upper protractile downwards and 
 forwards; eye nearer angle of preopercle than upper corner of gill 
 cleft; pharyngeal bones broad, but thin and weak; the teeth long; 
 dorsal fin long, of 25 to 30 rays; the anterior ones produced to about 
 ^2 length of fin; air bladder in 2 parts; lateral line complete; colora- 
 tion dark, never silvery. All are good food fishes. 
 
 a. Body slender, the dorsal region little elevated, depth 3.0 to 3.5 
 
 in the length. urus, 249 
 
 aa. Body deeper, the dorsal region elevated; depth 2.5 to 2.8 in 
 
 length. bubalus, 249 
 
 Ictiobus urus (Agassiz). MONGREL BUFFALO. 
 
 Head 3.7 to 4.0; depth 3.0 to 3.4; D. 29 or 30; A. 9 or 10; scales 
 
 36 to 40. 
 
 Body robust, the dorsal and ventral outlines about equally curved; 
 snout bluntly rounded; mouth small, little oblique, protractile down- 
 ward and forward, lips plicate; eye small, 5.1 to 6.6 in head; inter- 
 orbital space 2.0 to 2.3 in head; tips of anterior rays of dorsal when 
 deflexed not reaching past middle of fin ; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color dark slaty-gray to almost black; fins all dark. 
 
 This fish reaches a weight of 50 pounds but those usually seen in 
 the market seldom exceed 10 pounds. 
 
 It inhabits the larger streams and bayous throughout the Mississippi 
 Valley, the southern end of Lake Michigan and the tributary streams. 
 It spawns in April. 
 
 Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque). SMALL-MOUTH BUFFALO. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.1; depth 2.5 to 2.9; D. 27 to 30; A. 9 to 10; scales 
 
 37 to 39. 
 
 Body robust, the dorsal region considerably elevated; snout 
 bluntly pointed; mouth small, inferior, protractile downward and 
 forward; lips coarsely and brokenly plicate; eye small, 4.4 to 6.2 in 
 head; interorbital space 2.1 to 2.6 in head; tips of anterior rays of 
 dorsal when deflexed not reaching middle of fin ; lateral line complete. 
 
250 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Color dull brownish olive, never silvery. 
 
 This species reaches a weight of 40 Ibs., a little smaller than the 
 preceding. 
 
 It is usually found with the preceding species, which it much 
 resembles in appearance and habits. Not known to occur in the 
 Great Lake Basin. 
 
 Genus Carpiodes Rafmesque. 
 
 THE CARP SUCKERS. 
 
 Body thin, compressed; ventral line almost straight, the dorsal 
 much arched; head small, short; lips thin and slightly striate, the 
 upper protractile downwards; eye equidistant from lower posterior 
 angle of preopercle and upper corner of gill cleft; pharyngeal bones 
 broad but thin, the teeth weak and much compressed; dorsal fin 
 long, of 23 to 30 rays, the anterior ones produced to more than half 
 length of fin; lateral line complete; coloration silvery. All are used 
 for food, but of less value than species of Ictiobus. 
 
 a. Snout short, 3.5 to 4.5 in head; nostrils well forward, the dis- 
 tance from anterior nostril to end of snout less than diameter 
 of the eye. difformis, 250 
 
 aa. Snout longer, 3.0 to 3.5 in head; nostrils situated well back, 
 the distance from the anterior nostril to end of snout usually 
 greater than diameter of the eye; tip of lower jaw far in advance 
 of the nostrils. . velifer, 251 
 
 Carpiodes difformis Cope. BLUNT-NOSED RIVER CARP. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.3; depth 2.4 to 2.7; D. 24 to 25; A. 8; scales 35 to 37. 
 
 FIG. 23. BLUNT-NOSED RIVER CARP 
 
 Carpiodes difformis Cope. (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAXD. 251 
 
 Body short, compressed; the dorsal region much arched; snout 
 small, wholly inferior; lips weakly plicated, the halves of the lower 
 meeting at a rather sharp angle, tip of lower lip scarcely in advance 
 of the nostrils; interorbital space 2.2 to 2.5 in head; snout short, 
 very blunt, its length 3.9 to 4.5 in head; nostrils near tip of snout; 
 anterior dorsal rays as long as or longer than the fin; lateral line 
 complete. 
 
 Color silvery, darker above. 
 
 This fish seldom reaches a length of more than 1 2 inches. 
 
 It occurs in the Ohio Valley and westward in the larger streams. 
 
 Carpiodes velifer (Rafmesque). QUILLBACK; SILVER CARP. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.0; depth 2.7 to 3.0; D. 27 to 30; A. 9 to 10; scales 
 39 or 40. 
 
 Body ovate, compressed; dorsal region much arched; mouth small, 
 slightly oblique; lips weakly plicate, the lower halves meeting at a 
 sharp angle; tip of lower lip far in advance of nostrils; interorbital 
 space 2.3 to 2.5 in head; snout long, bluntly pointed, its length 2.9 
 to 3.5 in head; nostrils much nearer eye than tip of snout; anterior 
 dorsal rays about as long as the fin; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color light olive above, sides silvery; fins pale. 
 
 Length about 12 inches. 
 
 This species occurs in the smaller rivers and creeks from Ohio 
 to Iowa and southward. It spawns in April. Similar in size and 
 appearance to the preceding. 
 
 Genus Erimyzoii Jordan. 
 THE CHUB SUCKERS. 
 
 Body elongate, more or less compressed; head short; mouth 
 subinferior, slightly oblique; upper lip protractile, lower lip plicate, 
 its halves meeting in an acute angle; no anterior fontanelle, the 
 posterior well developed ; pharyngeal bones weak, the teeth small and 
 slender, rapidly decreasing in length upward ; air bladder in two parts ; 
 lateral line wanting. 
 
 Erimyzon sucetta (Lac^pede). CHUB SUCKER. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 4.1 ; depth 3.1 to 3.9; D. 9 to 12 ; A. 7 ; scales 36 to 45 
 
 Body oblong, compressed, becoming deeper with, age; head short; 
 
 mouth subinferior, small, slightly oblique; lower lip strongly plicate, 
 
 its halves meeting at an acute angle; eye large, 3.8 to 5.8 in head; 
 
252 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 
 FIG. 24. CHUB SUCKER. 
 
 Erimyzon sucetta (Lac.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 interorbital space slightly convex, 2.2 to 2.6 in head; dorsal fin a 
 little higher than long, its free margin convex; lateral line absent. 
 
 Color uniform brownish olive, with more or less coppery lustre; 
 sides with dark lateral band, most conspicuous in the young; fins 
 dusky. 
 
 Length about 10 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Great Lake Region to Virginia and 
 Texas. It prefers sluggish or still water where there is much vegeta- 
 tion. It spawns in April. Of little value as a food fish. 
 
 Fox River, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Des Plaines 
 River, Berwyn, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Lagoon, 
 Buffington, Indiana; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, 
 Indiana; Lagoon, Edgemoor, Indiana; Lagoon, Gary, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Minytrema Jordan. 
 STRIPED SUCKER. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; head small; mouth in- 
 ferior, the upper lip protractile, the lower plicate; fontanelle large; 
 pharyngeal bones weak, the teeth well developed; lateral line absent 
 in young, imperfectly developed in adults; air bladder in 2 parts. 
 
 Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque). STRIPED SUCKER. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.6; depth 3.9 to 4.5 ; D. n or 12; A. 7 or 8; scales 42 
 to 46. 
 
 Body elongated, moderately compressed; snout blunt; mouth 
 small, inferior; lower lip plicate, its halves meeting at a short angle; 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 253 
 
 snout 2.3 to 2.7 in head; eye small, 4.4 to 6.9 in head; interorbital 
 space convex, 2.2 to 2.5 in head; free margin of dorsal fin concave; 
 lateral line absent in young, incomplete in adult. 
 
 Color olivaceous to coppery; each scale with a dark spot, these 
 forming lines along rows of scales ; fins plain. 
 
 Length about 18 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits smaller rivers, creeks, and ponds from the 
 Great Lakes to North Carolina and Texas. It is not abundant any- 
 where and is of little value as a food fish. 
 
 Genus Moxostoma Rafinesque. 
 
 REDHORSE SUCKERS. 
 
 Body elongate, more or less compressed; mouth inferior, lips 
 transversely plicate, the folds rarely so broken as to form papillae ; 
 posterior fontanelle well open ; phar.yngeal bones weak, the teeth rather 
 coarse; lateral line well developed; air bladder in 3 parts; caudal fin 
 well forked. 
 
 a. Lips strongly plicate; halves of the lower lip meeting in wide 
 angle; margin of dorsal fin convex. aureolum, 253 
 
 aa. Folds of the lower lip more or less broken into papillae; dorsal 
 fin with its margin straight or concave. 
 
 b. Head long, 3.5 to 4.3 in body; halves of lower lip meeting in a 
 sharp angle; margin of dorsal fin straight. anisurum, 254 
 
 bb. Head short, 4.5 to 5.5 in head; halves of lower lip truncate 
 behind; margin of dorsal fin convex. breviceps, 254 
 
 Moxostoma aureolum (LeSueur). COMMON REDHORSE. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.5 ; depth3.6 to 4.4; D. 12 to 14; A. 7 ; scales 41 to 48. 
 
 Body elongate, robust anteriorly, compressed posteriorly; the 
 back little elevated; head moderate, flattened above, the cheeks 
 nearly vertical; mouth large, lips thick, coarsely plicate; eye large, 
 
 FIG. 25. LIPS OF THE COMMON REDHORSE. 
 
 Moxostoma aureolum (Le S.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
254 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 4.0 to 5.8 in head; free margin of dorsal straight, the fin a little higher 
 than long; upper lobe of caudal a little longer than the lower; lateral 
 line complete. 
 
 Color uniformly olivaceous above and on sides, becoming pale 
 below ; dorsal dusky ; lower fins with some orange at base ; the outer 
 margins dusky. 
 
 Length about 18 to 24 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits the clearer streams and lakes from the Assini- 
 boin through the Great Lake Region to Arkansas and Georgia. It 
 spawns in April and May, ascending streams for that purpose. Of 
 little value as a food fish. 
 
 Fox Lake, Illinois; Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Dead River. 
 Beach, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Moxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque). WHITE-NOSED SUCKER. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 4.3 ; depth 3.3 to 4.1 ; D. 14 to 17 ; A. 7 ; scales 42 to 45. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed, robust anteriorly, the dorsal region 
 elevated; head broad and short; interorbital space flat, 2.2 to 2.6 
 in head; snout long, 2.1 to 2.6 in head; mouth rather large, the lips 
 thick, the folds broken into papillae; eye large, 4.0 to 6.4 in head; 
 
 FIG. 26. LIPS OF THE WHITE-NOSED SUCKER. 
 
 Moxostoma anisurum (Raf.)- (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 dorsal fin long, its free margin straight, upper lobe of caudal a little 
 longer than the lower; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color pale, silvery, darker above, the nose and chin whitish; 
 dorsal and caudal with some dusky; lower fins white to light reddish. 
 
 Length about 18 inches. 
 
 It inhabits the clearer streams of the Great Lake Region to 
 North Carolina. Smaller and less common than the preceding. 
 
 Moxostoma breviceps (Cope). SHORT-HEADED REDHORSE. 
 
 Head 4.6 to 5.4; depth 3.8 to 4.6; D. 12 or 13 ; A. 7; scales 43 to 45. 
 
 Body subfusiform, moderately compressed; head short, sub- 
 conical, interorbital space 1.9 to 2.4 in head; snout 2.3 to 2.9 in head; 
 diameter of eye 4 to 5 in head; mouth small, upper lip coarsely 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 255 
 
 plicate, the lower breaking into papillae on distal margin; lower lip 
 truncate behind; free margin of dorsal fin concave; upper lobe of 
 caudal falcate, usually longer than the lower; lateral line complete. 
 Color pale yellowish olive above, paler below; dorsal scarcely 
 dusky; caudal light with reddish tinge; lower fins salmon colored with 
 greenish margins. 
 
 FIG. 26. LIPS OF THE SHORT-HEADED REDHORSE. 
 
 Moxostoma breviceps (Cope). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Length about 15 inches. 
 
 It inhabits streams and lakes of the Great Lake Region and the 
 Upper Mississippi Valley. A food fish of not much importance. 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Catostoinus LeSueur. 
 
 FINE-SCALED SUCKERS. 
 
 Body elongate, subfusiform; head elongate, rather broad; mouth 
 inferior; lips thick, papillose; upper lip protractile; posterior fontanelle 
 large; pharyngeal teeth shortish; air bladder in two parts; lateral 
 line developed. 
 
 a. Head transversely convex above; scales in lateral series more 
 than 60 ; scales on anterior portion of the body reduced in size. 
 
 b. Scales in lateral series 95 to 115. catostomus, 255 
 bb. Scales in lateral series 68 to 80. commersonii, 256 
 aa. Head broad, transversely concave; scales large, 48 to 55 in the 
 
 lateral series. nigricans, 257 
 
 Catostomus catostomus (Forster). LONG-NOSED SUCKER; RED 
 
 SUCKER; NORTHERN SUCKER. 
 
 Head 4^ to 4.6; depth 4.3 to 4.6; D. 10 or n; A. 7; scales 95 to 
 114. 
 
 Body elongate, subterete; head long and slender; interorbital 
 space convex; mouth small, lips coarsely tuberculate; snout long, 
 rather pointed, overhanging the large mouth; eye small 8.2 in head; 
 
256 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 scales on sides and upper part of body reduced in size anteriorly; 
 lateral line complete; caudal forked. 
 
 Color olivaceous above, lighter below; sides of male in breeding 
 season with a broad rosy band. 
 
 Length about 24 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits the Great Lake Region, the Upper Missouri 
 and Columbia Rivers, and northward into Alaska. Frequently taken 
 by fishermen at Pine and Millers, Indiana. Not abundant and of 
 little value as a food fish. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana. 
 
 Catostomus commersonii (Lacepede). COMMON SUCKER. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.8; depth 4.3 to 5.3; D. n to 13 ; A. 7 ; scales 63 to 
 80. 
 
 Body elongate, subterete, robust anteriorly; head subconical, 
 flattish above; interorbital space nearly flat; 2.1 to 2.6 in head; 
 snout blunt; mouth inferior, the lips strongly papillose; the diameter 
 of eye 4.5 to 6.8 in head; scales smaller on anterior portion of body; 
 
 FIG- 27. COMMON SUCKER. 
 Catostomus commersonii (Lac.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 lateral line complete in adults, partially absent in the young; caudal 
 fin forked. 
 
 Color olivaceous on back and sides; lighter below; spring males 
 with a faint rosy lateral band. 
 
 Length about 18 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits the smaller streams from Georgia to Missouri 
 and northward to Great Bear Lake and Hudson Bay. Spawns in 
 the spring. Too full of small bones to be of much value as a food fish. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; 
 Bull Creek, Beach, Illinois; Pettibone Creek, North Chicago, Illinois; 
 Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois; Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des 
 Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 257 
 
 Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; Lagoon and Lake Michigan, Pine, 
 Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, Indiana. 
 
 Catostomus nigricans Le Sueur. HOG SUCKER; STONE-ROLLER. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.5; depth 4.6 to 5.1 ; D. 10 to 13; A. 7 ; scales 46 to 51. 
 
 Body elongate, subfusiform. robust anteriorly; head very large 
 and broad; interorbital space transversely concave, 1.9 to 2.5 in 
 head; snout long and strongly decurved, 1.8 to 2.2 in head; mouth 
 inferior, the lips thick and strongly papillose; diameter of the eye 4.5 
 to 7.0 in head; scales on sides and dorsal region of nearly uniform 
 size; lateral line complete; caudal fin forked. 
 
 Color dark olivaceous above, sides with brassy lustre; belly white; 
 young with 4 dark oblique bars on back and sides; pectorals and 
 ventrals with some darker markings. 
 
 Length about 24 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits clear water, from the Lake of the Woods to 
 Kansas and east to the Atlantic slope, north of the Carolinas, ascend- 
 ing streams in the spring to spawn. Of little value as a food fish. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Family Cyprinidse. 
 
 THE MINNOWS. 
 
 Body elongate, more or less compressed; mouth large or small, 
 terminal or subinferior; margin of the upper jaw formed by the pre- 
 maxillaries; no teeth in the jaws; pharyngeal bones well developed, 
 falciform, and nearly parallel with the gill arches, each provided with 
 i to 3 rows of teeth, usually 4 to 7 in the main row; fewer in the other 
 rows if present; barbels, usually none, never more than 2 to 4; belly 
 rounded, rarely compressed to an edge, and never serrate; gill mem- 
 branes broadly joined to the isthmus; branchiostegals always 3 ; gills 
 4; pseudobranchiae usually present; ventral fins abdominal; air 
 bladder large, usually in two lobes; stomach without appendages. 
 
 This family comprises many small fresh-water fishes. A few of 
 our western forms reach a large size. On this continent the southern- 
 most limit of this family is in the Balsas basin in southern Mexico. 
 
 This large group of small fishes which so much resemble each other 
 in form, size, and coloration is one of the most difficult in which to 
 distinguish genera and species. Before one can make much progress 
 in the study ot these species, careful attention must be given to the 
 
258 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 teeth, as the genera are based largely on dental characters. The 
 teeth are confined to the pharyngeal bones which are just back of the 
 gill openings on either side of the oesophagus. In American species 
 the teeth on each pharyngeal bone are in one large row of 4 or 5, in 
 front of which is usually a smaller row of one or two teeth. The 
 pharyngeal bones must be removed with great care to avoid breaking 
 the teeth from them. It is best to clean the teeth by tearing away 
 the flesh with a needle or other sharp-pointed instrument, after which 
 they are easily examined with a hand lens. The herbivorous species 
 have teeth usually not hooked and with a flat or concave surface. In 
 the carnivorous species they usually have a sharp cutting or a serrated 
 edge and hooked tips. Their number is indicated by a dental formula. 
 Thus "teeth 4-4," indicates that only the principal row on each side 
 is present. "Teeth 2. 4-5, 2," indicates the principal row on one side 
 contains four teeth, the other five, while the lesser row on each side 
 contains two each, and so on. 
 
 During the breeding season the males are more or less covered with 
 tubercles, outgrowths of the epidermis. Usually these are confined 
 to the head, but often are found over the entire body. The lower 
 parts of the body and the fins are often highly colored ; the prevailing 
 color being red, although in some genera it is satin white, yellow, or 
 black. In some cases the males are deeper than the females. Young 
 examples are always difficult to identify; these are usually more 
 slender and have a larger eye than the adults. Often the young have 
 a lateral band and a dark caudal spot which the adults do not possess. 
 In the following descriptions the rudimentary rays of the dorsal and 
 anal fins are not counted. Besides the native species here mentioned, 
 three species from Europe and Asia have been introduced into some of 
 the streams and lakes of the United States and Mexico, where they 
 have become quite abundant. They are easily distinguished from 
 the native fresh-water fishes by the long dorsal fin which is preceded 
 by a serrated spine. 
 
 a. Anterior dorsal rays not forming a stiff serrated spine; dorsal 
 fin of less than 10 rays. 
 
 b. Alimentary canal more than twice the length of the body ; peri- 
 toneum usually black, or dark gray. 
 
 c. Air bladder surrounded by convolutions of the intestine; about 
 50 scales in the lateral series, teeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, o. 
 
 Campostoma , 260 
 cc. Air bladder not surrounded by convolutions of the intestine. 
 
 d. Scales very small 65 to 90 in the lateral series; teeth 5-5 or 4-5. 
 
 Chrosomus, 260 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 259 
 
 dd. Scales larger, 35 to 50 in lateral series; teeth 4-4. 
 
 e. Scales between nape and dorsal fin slightly or not smaller than 
 those on rest of body; 12 to 16 in number; first short dorsal 
 ray closely attached to second. Hybognathus, 261 
 
 ee. Scales between nape and dorsal fin much smaller than those on 
 rest of body; 22 to 25 in number; first dorsal ray separated 
 from second by a membrane. Pimephales, 262 
 
 bb. Alimentary canal less than twice the length of the body; 
 peritoneum usually pale. 
 
 f. Premaxillaries protractile; scales in lateral series, usually less 
 than 60. 
 
 g. No barbel at posterior end of maxillary. 
 
 h. Mouth very small, its gape very oblique, making with vertical 
 an angle of less than 40; peritoneum pale; teeth 4-5 or 5-5. 
 
 Opsopceodus, 263 
 
 hh. Mouth larger, its gape horizontal or more or less oblique, mak- 
 ing with the vertical an angle of more than 40. 
 
 i. Abdomen behind ventral fins with a sharp keel-like edge over 
 which the scales do not pass; lateral line much decurved, con- 
 curved with the ventral outline ; body much compressed ; teeth 
 5-5; anal rays 12 to 14. Notemigonus, 264 
 
 ii. Abdomen behind ventrals rounded, its surface fully scaled. 
 
 j. First dorsal ray separated from second by a membrane; snout 
 blunt; teeth 4-4. Cliola, 265 
 
 jj. First ray of dorsal closely attached to second. 
 
 k. Lips normal, nowhere conspicuously thickened. 
 
 I. Lower portion of head without externally visible mucous 
 channels. Notropis, 266 
 
 II. Lower portion of head with distended mucous cavities, ap- 
 pearing externally as transverse vitreous streaks. 
 
 Ericymba, 275 
 kk. Lower lip thickened at each side forming fleshy lobes. 
 
 Phenacobius , 276 
 
 gg. One or two barbels at or near posterior end of maxillary. 
 
 m. Maxillary barbel or barbels terminal; scales large, 35 to 45 in 
 
 lateral series, 14 to 25 in series before dorsal. Hybopsis, 277 
 
 mm. Barbel on upper side and near tip of maxillary; scales smaller, 
 
 50 or 60 in the lateral series. About 35 scales in series before 
 
 dorsal. Semotilus, 280 
 
 ff. Premaxillaries not protractile; scales small, more than 60 in 
 
 the lateral series. Rhinichthys, 281 
 
260 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 aa. Anterior dorsal rays forming a stiff serrated spine; dorsal fin 
 
 with 15 to 22 rays, 
 n. Mouth with 4 long barbels; scales in lateral series, 35 to 40; 
 
 teeth 1,1, 3-3, 1,1. Cyprinus, 282 
 
 nn. Mouth without barbels; scales in lateral series, 25 to 30; teeth 
 
 4-4. Carassius, 283 
 
 Genus Campostoma Agassiz. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; mouth small, lips thick; pre- 
 maxillaries protractile; no maxillary barbel; pharyngeal teeth 4-4 
 or i, 4-4, o, with oblique grinding surface and a slight hook on one or 
 two teeth ; alimentary canal coiled around the air bladder ; peritoneum 
 black. 
 
 Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque). STONE-ROLLER. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.6 ; depth 3.9 to 4.8 ; D. 8 ; A. 7 or 8 ; scales 46 to 53. 
 
 Body elongate, subterete; head subconic, the snout projecting 
 beyond the mouth; mouth horizontal, the maxillary scarcely reaching 
 vertical from posterior nostril, its length 3.3 to 4.6 in head; eye small, 
 4.2 to 5.2 in head; snout 2.3 to 2.8; teeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, o, with 
 oblique grinding surface; origin of dorsal fin about midway between 
 end of snout and base of caudal; alimentary canal 5 to 9.5 times 
 length of body; peritoneum black; scales small, 15 to 26 in a series 
 between nape and dorsal fin, lateral line complete. 
 
 Color brownish olive, sides irregularly blotched with darker; a 
 dusky vertical bar behind opercle, dorsal, and anal with a dusky bar 
 through the middle on males. 
 
 Length 6 inches. 
 
 This fish is abundant in small streams from Wyoming to New 
 York, North Carolina, and Texas. It prefers clear running water, 
 spawning on riffles in the spring. 
 
 Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; Lockport, Illinois; Hickory Creek, 
 Alpine, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Chrosomus Rafinesque. 
 
 Body moderately elongate, little compressed; mouth small, ter- 
 minal; lips normal; premaxillary protractile; no maxillary barbel; 
 pharyngeal teeth 5-5 or 4-5, moderately hooked tips, and with grind- 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 261 
 
 ing surface; alimentary canal twice length of the body; peritoneum 
 black. 
 
 Chrosomus erythrogaster Rafinesque. RED-BELLIED DACE. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.2; depth 4.4 to 4.9; D. 7 ; A. 7 or 8; Scales 77 to 91. 
 
 Body rather robust, not much compressed; head rather pointed; 
 mouth terminal, margin of upper lip on level with middle of pupil; 
 maxillary 3.2 to 4.0 in head; its tip reaching slightly past anterior 
 nostril; diameter of eye 3.3 to 3.8 in head; snout pointed, 2.9 to 3.5; 
 teeth 4-4 or 4-5 or 5-5, with tips slightly hooked and with flat or 
 grooved surfaces ; alimentary canal 2 . 4 to 3 . 5 times length of the body ; 
 peritoneum black; scales very small, 35 to 40 scales in series before 
 dorsal fin; lateral line incomplete. 
 
 Color brownish olive, a dark vertebral streak; dark spots on upper 
 part of sides; sides with two black stripes; a dark caudal spot; 
 spaces between dark lateral stripes cream colored to red; males in 
 spring with sides and belly with much scarlet. 
 
 Length 2 to 3 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits clear water from the Dakotas to Maine, 
 Alabama, and Kansas. It is nowhere especially abundant except in 
 the streams of the Ozark mountains, where it occurs in large numbers. 
 
 Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; Pettibone Creek, North Chicago, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 
 Illinois; Lagoon, Pine. Indiana. 
 
 Genus Hybognathus Agassiz. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; mouth small, the jaws 
 sharp edged; premaxillary protractile; no barbel; teeth 4-4 with 
 oblique grinding surface, little if any hook; alimentary canal 3 to 10 
 times length of the body; peritoneum black. 
 
 Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz. SILVERY MINNOW. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.6; depth 3.9 to 4.5; D. 8; A. 8; scales 37 to 39. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; head small, subconical; 
 mouth small, terminal, oblique, margin of upper jaw slightly below 
 middle of pupil, maxillary 3.6 to 4.3; diameter of eye 3.8 to 4.5 in 
 head; snout 2.9 to 3.5 ; lower jaw slightly the shorter, with sharp hard 
 edge; teeth 4-4, with narrow grinding surface, tips slightly if at all 
 hooked; alimentary canal 3.7 to 8.0 times length of the body; peri- 
 toneum dusky; scales large, 13 to 1 6 in a series before dorsal; lateral 
 line complete. 
 
262 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Color olivaceous green above, sides silvery; scales not distinctly 
 dark-edged. 
 
 Length 6 inches. 
 
 A small silvery minnow ranging from the Dakotas to Delaware, 
 Georgia and Northern Mexico. It prefers clear running water. So 
 far it is not recorded from the Chicago area. 
 
 Genus Pimephales Rafmesque. 
 FATHEADS. 
 
 Body robust or elongate, little compressed ; head short and round- 
 ed, mouth small, subinferior or slightly oblique; premaxillary pro- 
 tractile; no barbel; teeth 4-4 with oblique grinding surface; tips 
 usually not hooked ; alimentary canal more than twice length of the 
 body; peritoneum black. 
 
 a. Body short, robust, depth about 3.5 to 4 in length; lateral line 
 
 incomplete. promelas, 262 
 
 aa. Body more elongate, depth about 4.5 in length; lateral line 
 
 complete. iwtatus, 262 
 
 Pimephales promelas Rafmesque. FATHEAD; BLACKHEAD MIN- 
 NOW. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.0; depth 3.2 to 4.0; D. 9; A. 8; scales 42 to 48. 
 
 Body robust; head broad and short; snout blunt; mouth small, 
 nearly horizontal in males to very oblique in females, the tip of upper 
 lip on level with lower margin of orbit to upper margin of pupil ; max- 
 illary reaching very little past anterior nostril, its length 3.5 to 4.5 in 
 head; jaws about equal; diameter of eye 4.1 to 4.8 in head; snout 
 3.0 to 3.5 ; teeth 44 or 45 ; alimentary canal 2 to 3 times the length 
 of body; peritoneum black; first dorsal and anal ray in males con- 
 nected to second by a membrane, not adnate to it as is usual in min- 
 nows; lateral line incomplete; scales rather small, 25 to 30 rows in a 
 series in front of dorsal fin. * 
 
 Color dark olivaceous ; dorsal fin with a dusky bar across its middle, 
 more prominent in males; spring or breeding males with head jet 
 black, and body and fins dusky. 
 
 It reaches a length of about 3 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits ponds and sluggish streams from the Saskatche- 
 wan to New York and south to Northern Mexico. 
 
 Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois; Willow Springs, Illinois. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 263 
 
 Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque). BLUNT-NOSED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.4; depth 4.3 to 4.8; D. 8 or 9; A. 7 ; scales 41 to 44. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; head small, flat above; snout 
 blunt, the small mouth subinferior, tip of upper lip on a level with 
 inferior margin of orbit; maxillary 3.8 to 4.3 in head; diameter of 
 eye 3.5 to 4.4; teeth 4-4; alimentary canal about twice length of the 
 body; peritoneum black ; lateral line usually complete; scales smaller 
 on anterior part of body, about 23 in a series before dorsal fins. 
 
 FIG. 28. BLUNT-NOSED MINNOW. 
 
 Pimephales notatus (Raf.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color pale olivaceous, sides with a dark band from snout to base 
 of caudal; a dark caudal spot; dorsal fin with a dark blotch in 'front 
 on first rays; breeding males darker, the head often black. 
 
 Length 2 to 3^" inches. 
 
 This fish has about the same range as the preceding but is usually 
 found in clear water. It is one of the most abundant minnows in the 
 Chicago area. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Bull 
 Creek, Beach, Illinois; Pettibone Creek, North Chicago, Illinois; 
 Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Des 
 Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; Thorn Creek, Flossmore, Illinois; 
 Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; 
 Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; Butterfield Creek, Elliotts Park, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, 
 Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Opsopoeodus Hay. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; mouth very small, ter- 
 minal; maxillary protractile; no barbels; teeth 4-5 or 5-5 with ser- 
 rated edges, tips hooked; alimentary canal about length of the body; 
 peritoneum pale; scales 37 to 42 in lateral series. 
 
264 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Opsopoeodus emiliae Hay. SMALL-MOUTHED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 4.2 to 4.5; depth 4.1 to 4.8; D. 8 or 9; A. 8; scales 38 to 40. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; head small; mouth very 
 small and oblique, its gape making an angle of about 30 with vertical ; 
 maxillary 3.7 to 4.6 in head; snout 3.2 to 3.8; diameter of eye 3.1 to 
 3.7; teeth 5-5 or 4-5, slender and strongly hooked; alimentary canal 
 a little shorter than the body; peritoneum dusky to white; dorsal 
 fin inserted nearer tip of snout than base of caudal; lateral line in- 
 complete; scales not smaller on anterior part of body, 15 to 18 in series 
 before dorsal fin. 
 
 FIG. 29. SMALL-MOUTHED MINNOW. 
 
 OpsopTeodus emiliae Hay. (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color light olivaceous, scales conspicuously dark edged; a dark 
 lateral band ; no caudal spot ; dorsal fin with one or two dark blotches, 
 most conspicuous in breeding males, other fins plain. 
 
 Length about 2^ inches. 
 
 A small fish ranging from Mississippi to Oklahoma to Northern 
 Illinois. 
 
 Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Noteinigoiius Rafinesque. 
 
 BREAMS. 
 
 Body deep, much compressed; edge of ventral surface in front of 
 ventral fins forming a keel over which the scales do not pass; pre- 
 maxillary protractile; mouth terminal, oblique; teeth 55, hooked 
 and with grinding surface ; alimentary canal short ; peritoneum pale; 
 scales 39 to 55; lateral line present, much decurved. 
 
 Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill). GOLDEN SHINER; ROACH; 
 
 BREAM. 
 
 Head 4 to 4.5; depth 3.0 (adult) to 4.5 (young); D. 8; A. n to 
 14; scales 45 to 52. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 265 
 
 Body elongate, much compressed; head small, subconic; mouth 
 small, terminal, oblique, tip of upper lip on level with upper margin 
 of pupil; maxillary not reaching past anterior nostril, its length 3.5 
 to 3.9 in head; snout 3.2 to 4.0; diameter of eye 3.4 to 4.4; teeth 
 4-4 to 5-5; alimentary canal i to 1.8 times length of body; perito- 
 neum light, or slightly dusky; lateral line complete, deeply decurved; 
 
 -*Hg-. 
 
 FIG. 30. GOLDEN SHINER; ROACH. 
 
 Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitch.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 scales not smaller on anterior part of body, about 25 to 30 in front of 
 dorsal fin. 
 
 Color greenish olive ; sides silvery or with golden reflections; dor- 
 sal and anal fins tipped with dusky, young with a dark lateral band. 
 
 Length 6 to 12 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Dakotas to New Brunswick, Florida, and 
 Texas. It usually inhabits ponds and sluggish streams. Very 
 abundant in the Chicago area. 
 
 Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, 
 Illinois; Des Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, 
 Berwyn, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Willow Springs, Illinois; 
 Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake 
 George, Indiana; Lagoon, Buffington, Indiana; Calumet River, 
 Clark Junction, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Cliola Girard. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; mouth small, subinferior; no 
 maxillary barbel; premaxillary protractile; teeth 4-4; hooked at 
 
266 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 tips and without grinding surface; alimentary canal shorter than the 
 body; peritoneum pale; scales 42 to 48; first dorsal ray connected 
 to second by a membrane as in Pimephales, which in general appear- 
 ance it much resembles. 
 
 Cliola vigilax (Baird & Girard). BULLHEAD MINNOW; FLATHEAD. 
 
 Head, 3.7 to 4.1; depth 4.1 to 4.5; D. 9; A. 7; scales 39 to 44. 
 
 Body rather robust; snout blunt; mouth small, subinferior, tip 
 of upper lip on level with inferior margin of orbit; maxillary not 
 reaching orbit, its length 2.9 to 3.6 in head; snout 2.9 to 3.3; diameter 
 of eye 3.2 to 4.0; teeth 4-4 with grinding surface and slight hooks; 
 alimentary canal about equal to length of body; peritoneum pale; 
 
 
 FIG. 31. BULLHEAD MINNOW; FLATHEAD. 
 
 Cliola vigilax (Baird and Girard). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 lateral line complete; scales smaller on anterior half of body, 21 to 
 27 rows in a series before dorsal fin. 
 
 Length 2 or 3 inches. 
 
 Color dusky olive or yellowish above; sides silvery, with a faint 
 suggestion of a dark lateral band; a small jet-black caudal spot, and 
 a prominent black spot on the anterior 3 or 4 rays of the dorsal fin; 
 spring males with head leaden to blackish, and entire body more or 
 less dusky. 
 
 This fish inhabits clear water, ranging from Iowa to Ohio, Georgia, 
 and Texas. 
 
 Genus Notropis Rafinesque. 
 SILVERY MINNOWS. 
 
 Body more or less elongate, not much compressed; mouth ter- 
 minal oblique to nearly horizontal and inferior; premaxillaries pro- 
 tractile; no barbels; teeth in one or two rows, the main row always 
 4-4 ; alimentary canal about the length of the body, peritoneum pale 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 267 
 
 to dusky; scales large, 30 to 40 in lateral series; not smaller on an- 
 terior part of body. 
 
 a. Scales moderate, fewer than 40 in the lateral series ; fewer than 
 20 scales in a series between nape and dorsal fin. 
 
 b. Anal fin with 7 to 9 rays; origin of dorsal fin near middle of the 
 body. 
 
 c. Scales on sides not or scarcely deeper than long. 
 
 d. Body subterete, not much compressed; tip of first ray of 
 dorsal. fin reaching past tip of last ray when the fin is deflexed. 
 
 e. Sides with a distinct dark lateral band prominent on sides of 
 head and on snout; lateral line incomplete. 
 
 f. Mouth oblique, partially or entirely above lower margin of 
 black lateral band; origin of dorsal nearer tip of snout than 
 base of caudal ; snout pointed. 
 
 g. Mouth very oblique, making with the vertical an angle of less 
 than 40; anterior margin of lower jaw on level with upper 
 border of lateral band. ano genus, 268 
 
 gg. Mouth less oblique, the angle with the vertical more than 40; 
 
 anterior margin of lower jaw on level with middle of lateral 
 
 band. heterodon, 268 
 
 ff. Mouth nearly horizontal, its gape wholly below lateral band; 
 
 origin of dorsal fin midway between tip of snout and base of 
 
 caudal; snout blunt. cayuga, 269 
 
 ee. Sides without distinct lateral band; lateral line complete; snout 
 
 blunt; mouth little oblique, 
 h. No dark spot at base of caudal ; 1 2 to 1 5 scales before dorsal fin ; 
 
 maxillary 2.8 to 3.7 in head, 
 i. Interorbital broad, 2.5 to 2.9 in head; 12 to 14 scales before 
 
 dorsal fin; maxillary 3.3 to 3.7 in head. blennius, 270 
 
 ii. Interorbital narrow 3.0 to 3.6 in head; 13 to 15 scales before 
 
 dorsal; maxillary 2.8 to 3.4 in head. jejunus, 270 
 
 hh. A prominent dark spot at base of caudal; 15 to 1 8 scales before 
 
 dorsal; maxillary 3.7 to 4.5 in head; interorbital 2.5 to 2.9. 
 
 htidsonius, 271 
 dd. Body compressed; tip of last ray of dorsal not reaching tip of 
 
 last ray when the fin is deflexed. whipplii, 272 
 
 cc. Scales on sides deeper than long. cornutus, 272 
 
 bb. Anal fin. with 10 to 12 rays; origin of dorsal fin much nearer 
 
 base of caudal than tip of snout, 
 j. Head short, 4^3 in length of body; body slender, its depth $% 
 
 in length. atherinoides , 273 
 
268 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 jj. Head longer, 4 in length of body; body deeper, 4%" in length. 
 
 rubrifrons, 274 
 
 aa. Scales smaller; 40 to 50 in the lateral series, more than 20 scales 
 in series between nape and origin of dorsal. umbratilis, 274 
 
 Notropis anogenus Forbes. LEAST MINNOW. 
 
 Head 4.3 to 4.5; depth 4.3 to 4.5; D. 8; A. 7 ; scales 34 to 37. 
 
 Body elongate, slightly compressed; head small; mouth very 
 small and very oblique, its gape making an angle of 20 to 30 with 
 the vertical; maxillary not reaching back of posterior nostril, its 
 length 4.5 to 5.1 in head; snout 4.5 to 4.8; diameter of eye 3.1 to 3.3 ; 
 teeth 4-4 with well developed grinding surface, more or less hooked; 
 dorsal fin slightly behind ventrals, a little nearer base of caudal than 
 tip of snout; alimentary canal 1.2 to 1.3 times length of body; peri- 
 
 FIG. 32. LEAST MINNOW. 
 Notropis anogenus Forbes. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 toneum dusky; lateral line complete or nearly so; scales not smaller 
 on anterior portion of body, about 13 or 14 before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color dark olivaceous above, silvery below; sides with a dark 
 lateral band, ending in a caudal spot; tip of lower jaw black. 
 
 Length about i% inches. 
 
 A small species, 2 or 3 inches in length, ranging from Iowa to New 
 York. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Notropis heterodon (Cope). BLACK-STRIPED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.2; depth 4.1 to 4.6; D. 8; A. 7 or 8; scales 35 to 38. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; head small, conic; mouth 
 terminal, oblique, its gape making an angle of 40 to 60 with vertical, 
 the tip of upper jaw on level with upper margin of the pupil; max- 
 illary scarcely reaching front of orbit; its length 3.6 to 4.0 in head; 
 snout pointed, 3.5 to 3.8; diameter of eye 2.7 to 3.0; teeth i or o, 
 4-4, i or o, the first three hooked and with grinding surface; ali- 
 mentary canal shorter than the body; peritoneum silvery; dorsal 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 269 
 
 fin over ventrals, its origin nearer tip of snout than base of caudal; 
 lateral line usually incomplete; scales before dorsal 12 to 14. 
 
 Color dark olivaceous above, silvery below; a dark lateral band 
 from snout through eye to base of caudal ; margin of lower lip black. 
 
 Length 2 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Minnesota to New York, Ohio, and Kansas. 
 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana. 
 
 FIG. 33. BLACK-STRIPED MINNOW. 
 
 Notropis heterodon (Cope). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Notropis cayuga Meek. BLUNT-NOSED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.7 to 4.1 ; depth 4.5 to 5.2 ; D. 8; A. 7 to 8; scales 34 to 36. 
 
 Body elongate, not much compressed; head rather large; snout 
 blunt; mouth small, but little oblique, the tip of upper lip below level 
 of lower margin of the eye; maxillary not reaching eye, its length 4.2 
 to 4. 9 in head; snout 3.2 to 3.8; diameter of eye 3.1 to 3.5 ; teeth 4-4, 
 hooked, the grinding surface narrow; alimentary canal i to 1.2 times 
 
 FIG. 34. BLUNT-NOSED MINNOW. 
 
 Notropis cayuga Meek. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 length of body; peritoneum silvery; lateral line usually incomplete; 
 scales 12 to 15 rows before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color olivaceous, the scales dark edged; a black lateral stripe 
 from snout to base of caudal; a faint caudal spot; margin of lower 
 jaw without black. 
 
270 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 
 
 Length 2^ inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits sluggish water where there is considerable vege- 
 tation, having about the same range as the preceding. 
 
 Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons,. Illinois; Hickory 
 Creek, Marley, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Wolf 
 Lake, Roby, Indiana. 
 
 Notropis blennius (Girard). STRAW-COLORED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.8 to 4.2; depth 4.2 to 4.8; D. 8; A. 7; scales 32 to 36. 
 
 Body elongate, robust; head small, conic; snout blunt; mouth 
 small, slightly oblique, the tip of the upper lip on level of lower mar- 
 gin of pupil to lower margin of eye; maxillary 3.3 to 3.7 in head; 
 snout 3.3 to 3.8; diameter of eye 3.0 to 3.4; teeth 4-4, hooked and 
 with grinding surface ; alimentary canal about equal to length of body; 
 peritoneum white or slightly dusky; lateral line complete; origin of 
 
 ^^WsP^^ 
 
 FIG. 35. STRAW-COLORED MINNOW. 
 
 Notropis blennius (Girard). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 dorsal over or slightly in advance of ventrals, about equidistant be- 
 tween tip of snout and base of caudal; scales before dorsal 12 to 14. 
 
 Color light olive, paler below; a faint lateral band; caudal spot 
 present or indistinct; lateral band not conspicuous on head. 
 
 Length 2 l / 2 inches. 
 
 This small minnow inhabits clear water, ranging from Wyoming 
 to New York and Texas 
 
 Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Des Plaines River, Libertyville, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, 
 Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana; 
 Lake Michigan, Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Notropis jejunus (Forbes). SILVERY MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.8 to 4.5; depth 3.8 to 5; D. 7 or 8; A. 7; scales 34 to 37. 
 Body elongate, compressed; head somewhat depressed; snout 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 271 
 
 _.. ' 
 
 FIG. 36. SILVERY MINNOW. 
 
 Notropis jejunus (Forbes). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 blunt and rounded; mouth rather large, slightly oblique, the tip of 
 the upper lip above the level of the inferior margin of the pupil ; max- 
 illary scarcely reaching front of orbit, its length 2.8 to 3.4 in head; 
 snout 3.1 to 3.6; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, grinding surface, if present, narrow 
 and irregular; alimentary canal .9 to 1.2 times the length of the body; 
 dorsal fin almost directly over ventrals, about equidistant between 
 the tip of snout and base of caudal fin; lateral line complete, little 
 decurved; scales on sides rather large, thin and rounded, 13 to 15 in 
 series before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color pale, sides silvery with a broad lead-colored band; a ver- 
 tebral streak; no caudal spot; fins all plain. 
 
 Length 2 to 2% inches. 
 
 This small species ranges from Winnipeg to Kansas and Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 Notropis hudsonius (DeWitt Clinton). SPOT-TAILED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 4.1 to 4.7; depth 4.0 to 4.5; D. 8; A. 8; scales 36 to 39. 
 
 Body elongate, robust, compressed; head short; mouth rather 
 small, slightly oblique, the tip of upper lip below level of lower margin 
 of pupil ; maxillary not reaching eye, its length 3 . 7 to 4. 5 in head ; snout 
 bluntish, its length 3.2 to 3.5 in head; diameter of eye 2.8 to 3.5 in 
 head; teeth variable, o, i or 2, 4-4, 2, i or o, with narrow grinding 
 surface, and slightly hooked tips; alimentary canal i to 1.4 times 
 
 FIG. 37. SPOT-TAILED MINNOW. 
 
 Notropis hudsonius (De W. Clinton). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
272 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 length of body; peritoneum silvery; origin of dorsal slightly in ad- 
 vance of ventrals, nearer tip of snout than base of caudal ; lateral line 
 usually complete; scales 15 or 1 8 in series before dorsal. 
 
 Color pale olivaceous, silvery below; a dark lateral band, usually 
 a large caudal spot. 
 
 Length 4 to 6 inches. 
 
 This fish occurs in the larger streams and lakes from North Da- 
 kota to Quebec and Missouri. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; 
 Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; 
 Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Notropis whipplii (Girard). STEEL-COLORED MINNOW; SILVERFIN. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.2; depth 3.6 to 4.4; D. 8; A. 8 or 9; scales 36 to 39. 
 
 Body elongate, considerably compressed; head small, subconic; 
 mouth moderate, terminal, oblique, the tip of upper lip on level with 
 lower margin of the pupil ; maxillary scarcely reaching eye ; its length 
 3.1 to 3.6 in head; snout pointed, 2.8 to 3.2; diameter of eye 3.9 to 
 4. 8; teeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, i, the edges crenate; alimentary canal shorter 
 than the body; peritoneum silvery; origin of dorsal fin a little behind 
 ventrals, a little nearer base of caudal than tip of snout; 14 or 16 
 scales in series before dorsal fin; lateral line complete, decurved 
 anteriorly. 
 
 Color olivaceous, bluish above and on sides, silvery below; two 
 dark blotches on posterior membranes of dorsal fin. Breeding males 
 with tips of caudal and anal satin white; lower fins lemon-yellow. 
 
 Length 3 to 4 inches. 
 
 This minnow inhabits clear water from Minnesota to the St. Law- 
 rence, Virginia, and Arkansas. 
 
 Notropis cornutus (Mitchill). COMMON SHINER. 
 
 Head 3.8 to 4.2; depth 3.3 to 4.4; D.8; A. gorio; scales 37 to 40. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed; head large, snout pointed to bluntish; 
 mouth large, oblique, the tip of upper lip above lower margin of orbit ; 
 maxillary scarcely reaching front of orbit, its length 2.9 to 3.2 in head ; 
 snout 2.8 to 3.3; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, with narrow grinding surface; ali- 
 mentary canal i.o to 1.5 times length of the body; dorsal fin slightly 
 in advance, of ventrals and nearer tip of snout than base of caudal; 
 lateral line complete; scales on sides much deeper than long, about 
 1 6 to 25 in a series before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color olivaceous above, silvery below; a faint lateral band, no 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 273 
 
 FIG. 38. COMMON SHINER. 
 
 Notropis cornutus (Mitch.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 caudal spot. Breeding males have upper parts greenish, the sides 
 salmon-pink. 
 
 Length from 5 to 8 inches. 
 
 This fish is abundant in clear water east of the Rockies, except 
 in the Gulf states. 
 
 Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Hickory 
 Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque. SHINER. 
 
 Head 4.1 to 4.8; depth 4.8 to 5.5; D. 8; A. 10 or n; scales 36 
 to 40. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; head short, conical; snout 
 pointed; mouth large, terminal, oblique, tip of upper lip on level with 
 middle of pupil; maxillary nearly reaching orbit, its length 3.0 to 
 3.4 in head; snout 3.3 to 3.6; diameter of eye 3.0 to 3.4; teeth i or 
 2, 4-4, 2; narrow grinding surface; alimentary canal shorter than the 
 body; dorsal fin well behind ventrals, much nearer base of caudal 
 than tip of snout; 18 to 21 scales in series before dorsal fin; lateral 
 line complete. 
 
 Color olivaceous green above, silvery on sides and below; a faint 
 lateral band; no caudal spot. 
 
 Length 1% to 4^2 inches. 
 
 This minnow inhabits the larger lakes and streams in the Great 
 Lake Region, Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, 
 
274 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Edgemoor, 
 Indiana. 
 
 Notropis rubrifrons (Cope). ROSY-FACED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 4.3 to 5.0; depth 4.8 to 5.8; D. 8; A. 9 to n ; scales 36 to 40. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; head long, conic; snout 
 pointed; mouth large, oblique, terminal, tip of upper lip on level 
 with middle of upper margin of pupil; maxillary reaching front of 
 orbit, its length 2.7 to 3.1 in head; snout 3.0 to 3.4; diameter of eye 
 3.2 to 3.6; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, grinding surface slight; alimentary canal 
 less than length of the body ; peritoneum silvery with brown specks ; 
 dorsal fin well behind ventrals, and nearer base of caudal than tip of 
 snout ; lateral line complete ; 1 7 to 2 1 rows of scales in series before 
 dorsal fin. 
 
 Color dark olive above, silvery below, a faint dark lateral band; 
 no caudal spot. 
 
 Length 2^ inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits clear water, ranging from New York to Michigan 
 and Kansas. 
 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Notropis umbratilis (Girard). REDFIX. 
 
 Head 3.7 to 4.3; depth 3.2 to 4.2; D. 8; A. 10 to 12; scales 41 
 to 48. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed; head conic; snout pointed; mouth 
 moderate, terminal, oblique, tip of upper lip above lower margin of 
 pupil; maxillary reaching front of orbit, its length 2.7 to 3.2 in head; 
 snout 2.8 to 3.3; diameter of eye 3.4 to 4.2 in head; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, 
 with grinding surface on median teeth ; alimentary canal shorter than 
 
 FIG. 39. REDFIN. 
 
 Notropis umbratilis (Girard). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 275 
 
 body; peritoneum silvery; dorsal fin well back of ventrals, nearer 
 base of caudal than tip of snout; scales on anterior part of body 
 reduced in size, 26 to 30 in a series in front of dorsal fin; lateral line 
 complete, deeply decurved. 
 
 Color dark purplish blue above, greenish blue below,. not silvery; 
 dorsal fin with black spot at its base in front. Breeding males with 
 much red on sides and on lower fins. 
 
 Length about 3 inches. 
 
 This minnow ranges from Wisconsin to Mississippi and Arkansas. 
 It prefers clear running water. 
 
 Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illi- 
 nois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Ericymba Cope. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; premaxillary protractile; teeth 
 4-4 or i, 4-4, i, without grinding surface; hooked interorbitals, sub- 
 orbitals, and dentary bones with greatly developed mucous channels ; 
 alimentary canal short; peritoneum silvery; lateral line complete. 
 
 Ericymba buccata Cope. SILVER-MOUTHED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 3.7; depth 4.1 to 5.2; D. 8; A. 7 or 8; scales 32 to 35. 
 
 Body elongate, fusiform; head long, snout blunt; mouth small, 
 horizontal, subinferior, tip of upper lip on level with lower margin 
 of orbit; maxillary not reaching past anterior nostril, its length 3.5 
 to 4.0 in head; lower jaw the shorter; snout 2.6- to 3.0 in head; diam- 
 eter of eye 3.3 to 3.6; teeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, i ; alimentary canal about 
 as long as the body; peritoneum silvery; bones of lower part of head 
 with well developed mucous channels appearing externally as vitreous 
 streaks, a character peculiar to the genus; dorsal fin over ventrals, 
 
 FIG. 40. SILVER-MOUTHED MINNOW. 
 
 Ericymba buccata Cope. (Prom Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
276 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 slightly nearer tip of snout than base of caudal ; lateral line complete ; 
 13 to 15 scales in a series before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color pale olivaceous above, silvery below ; lateral band developed 
 posteriorly; no caudal spot. 
 
 Length. 3 to 4 inches. 
 
 This small minnow ranges from Michigan to Florida and Kansas 
 
 Kankakee, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Pheiiacobius Cope. 
 SUCKER-MOUTHED MINNOWS. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed, mouth inferior, the lower lip 
 thin in the middle and enlarged into a fleshy lobe on each side, upper 
 jaw protractile, no barbel; teeth 4-4, hooked and with grinding sur- 
 face; intestine short, peritoneum silvery; dorsal rays 8, anal 7, scales 
 45 to 60; lateral line complete. 
 
 FIG. 41. SUCKER-MOUTHED MINNOW. 
 
 Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Phenacobius mirabilis (Girard). SUCKER-MOUTHED MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.5; depth 4.7 to 5.5; D. 8; A. 7 ; scales 43 to 51. 
 
 Body moderately slender; head short, blunt anteriorly; mouth 
 small ; inferior maxillary not reaching eye, its length 3.7 to 4.3 in head; 
 upper jaw provided with a fleshy lip which is continuous on each side 
 with the lower lip, forming rather prominent laterally projecting 
 lobes, these separated by a frenum; snout 2.3 to 2.6 in head; diameter 
 of eye 3.6 to 4.8; teeth hooked, occasionally with narrow grinding- 
 surface; alimentary canal equal to length of head and body; peri- 
 toneum plain silvery; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color pale olivaceous ; a silvery lateral band ending in a conspic- 
 uous caudal spot; fins all plain. 
 
 Length 3^ inches. 
 
 This fish is found from Northern Illinois to Iowa and Arkansas. 
 
 Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 277 
 
 Genus Hybopsis Agassiz. 
 
 Body elongate, robust; mouth terminal or inferior, one or more 
 barbels on posterior end of maxillary; premaxillary protractile; teeth 
 4-4 or i, 4-4, i or o, hooked and with grinding surface; alimentary 
 canal short; peritoneum pale dusky or black; scales 35 to 60 in lateral 
 series. All of the species of this genus inhabit clear running water. 
 
 a. Mouth small, horizontal or nearly so; snout blunt; margin of 
 upper lip on or below level of lower margin of orbit; sides 
 silvery. 
 
 b. Origin of dorsal fin about midway between base of caudal and 
 tip of snout; preorbital bone moderate; head 3.6 to 4.2 in 
 length of body. 
 
 c. Scales moderate, 38 to 47 in lateral series; diameter of eye 
 3.1 to 3.8; back and sides with irregular dark blotches. 
 
 dissiwiilis , 277 
 
 cc. Scales larger, 35 to 38 in lateral series; diameter of eye 2.8 to 
 
 3.1 ; sides silvery, without dark blotches. amblops, 278 
 
 bb. Origin of dorsal fin much nearer tip of snout than base of caudal ; 
 
 preorbital bone large, silvery; head 4.3 to 5.3 in the body. 
 
 storerianus, 278 
 
 aa. Mouth large, oblique; snout pointed; margin of upper lip about 
 midway between lower margin of eye and lower edge of cheek ; 
 sides little or not at all silvery. kentuckiensis , 279 
 
 Hybopsis dissimilis (Kirtland). SPOTTED SHINER. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.2; depth 4.7 to 5.3; D. 8; A. 7; scales 38 to'45. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; head long, flattish above; 
 mouth small, horizontal, inferior, the tip of upper lip below level of 
 
 FIG. 42. SPOTTED SHINER. 
 
 Hybopsis dissimilis (Kirtland). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 lower margin of eye; maxillary reaching anterior nostril, its length 
 3.6 to 4.3 in head ; maxillary barbel less than diameter of pupil ; snout 
 blunt, 2.4 to 2.7 in head; diameter of eye 3.1 to 3.8; teeth 4-4, with 
 narrow grinding surface; alimentary canal i to 1.5 times length of 
 
278 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 body; peritoneum black; dorsal fin in front of ventrals, about equi- 
 distant between tip of snout and base of caudal; scales 14 to 17 in 
 series before dorsal fin; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color olivaceous, the sides silvery; a bluish lateral band; back 
 and sides with irregular dark blotches. 
 
 Length 3 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Ohio to Iowa and Arkansas. 
 
 Hybopsis amblops (Rafinesque). BIG-EYED CHUB; SILVERY CHUB. 
 
 Head 3. 6 to 3.9; depth 4.6 to 5.2; D. 8; A. 7; scales 35 to 38. 
 
 Body elongate, rather robust; head broad, flattened above; mouth 
 small, horizontal, subinferior, the tip of the lower jaw little in advance 
 of first nostril ; the tip of the upper lip below the level of lower margin 
 
 FIG. 43. BIG-EYED CHUB; SILVERY CHUB. 
 
 Hybopsis amblops (Raf.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 of the eye ; maxillary usually reaching vertical from front, of orbit, 
 its length 3.6 to 4.6 in the head; barbel small; snout blunt, usually 
 overhanging the small mouth, 2.9 to 3.4 in head; diameter of eye 
 2.8 to 3.1 in head; teeth i, 4-4, i, hooked at tip and with narrow 
 grinding surface ; alimentary canal shorter than the fish ; peritoneum 
 coarsely specked with brown; dorsal fin over ventrals, about equi- 
 distant between tip of snout and base of caudal fin; 12 to 15 scales 
 in series between nape and dorsal fin; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color olivaceous, silvery; a dusky lateral band continued forward 
 through the eye to end of snout; no dark caudal spot. 
 
 Length 2 to 3 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from New York to Iowa and Alabama. 
 
 Hybopsis storerianus (Kirtland). STORER'S CHUB. 
 
 Head 4.3 to 5.3; depth 4.3 to 5.3; D. 8; A. 7, 8, or 9; scales 37 
 to 40. 
 
 Body elongate, more or less compressed; head short, compressed; 
 preorbital bone especially prominent; mouth small, inferior, and hori- 
 zontal, tip of upper lip far below level of lower margin of eye; max- 
 illary scarcely reaching front of orbit, its length 3.2 to 3.7 in head; 
 snout blunt, 2.8 to 3.1 ; diameter of eye 2.9 to 3.4; teeth o or i, 4-4, 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 279 
 
 i; alimentary canal scarcely as long as the body ; peritoneum silvery; 
 dorsal fin a little in advance of ventrals, much nearer tip of snout than 
 base of caudal; lateral line complete; 14 to 16 rows of scales in series 
 before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color light olivaceous above, silvery below; an indistinct lateral 
 band; no caudal spot. 
 
 Length 5 to 6 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits the larger streams- from Wyoming to Ohio 
 and Arkansas. 
 
 Hybopsis. kentuckiensis (Rafinesque). RIVER CHUB; HORNY-HEAD. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 3.8; depth 3.9 to 4.5; D. 8; A. 7; scales 39 to 44. 
 
 Body elongate, robust, little compressed; head conical, the top 
 convex; mouth rather large, little oblique, the tip of upper lip on level 
 with point about midway between lower margin of eye and chin ; max- 
 illary not quite reaching eye, 3.0 to 3.6 in head; snout bluntish, 2.4 
 to 2.9 in head; diameter of eye 4.1 to 5.6 ; lower jaw shorter than the 
 
 FIG. 44. RIVER CHUB; HORNY-HEAD. 
 
 Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Raf.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 upper; teeth 4-4, or i, 4-4, i ; alimentary canal i to 1.4 times length 
 of the body; peritoneum dusky; dorsal fin inserted over ventrals, and 
 a little nearer base of caudal than tip of snout; lateral line complete 
 or nearly so; 17 to 22 rows of scales in a series before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color greenish olivaceous above, lighter below; an indistinct lat- 
 eral band ending in a dark caudal spot, more prominent in the young; 
 a pale reddish spot behind eye. 
 
 Length 6 to 8 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Wyoming to Pennsylvania, and Alabama. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illi- 
 nois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, 
 Illinois. 
 
280 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Genus Semotilus Rafinesque. 
 FALLFISHES. 
 
 Body robust; mouth terminal; premaxillary protractile ; a small 
 barbel on upper side of maxillary near its extremity; teeth 2, 5-4, 2, 
 hooked and without grinding surface ; alimentary canal less than twice 
 the length of the body; peritoneum pale; scales 45 to 60 in lateral 
 series. 
 
 Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill). HORNED DACE; CREEK CHUB. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 3.9; depth 4.1 to 4.6; D. 8; A. 8; scales 55 to 69. 
 
 Body elongate, robust anteriorly; head large, broadly rounded 
 above; mouth large, terminal, oblique, tip of upper lip on level with 
 
 FIG. 45- HORNED DACE; CREEK CHUB. 
 
 Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitch.)- (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 lower margin of pupil; maxillary reaching beyond anterior margin 
 of orbit, its length 2.9 to 3.4 in head; diameter of eye 4.8 to 7.1 in 
 head;' teeth variable, usually 2, 4-5, 2, the shorter row may have o, 
 i or 2, the longer one 4 or 5 teeth; alimentary canal about length of 
 body; peritoneum pale; lateral line complete; scales smaller on an- 
 terior portion of body, about 35 rows in a series before dorsal fin. 
 
 Color dusky bluish above to silvery below; a faint dark lateral 
 band usually ending in a dark caudal spot ; dorsal fin with a distinct 
 dark blotch at base of first rays. 
 
 Length about 6 to 8 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Wyoming to Maine, North Carolina, and 
 Missouri. 
 
 Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; Bull Creek, Beach, Illinois; Petti- 
 bone Creek, North Chicago, Illinois; Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois; Thorn 
 Creek, Thornton, Illinois; Butterfield Creek, Elliotts Park, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 281 
 
 Genus Rhiiiichtliys Agassiz. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; mouth small, inferior, a small 
 barbel at tip of maxillary; premaxillary not protractile; teeth i or 2, 
 4-4, i or 2, hooked and without grinding surface; alimentary canal 
 short; peritoneum dusky; scales small, 60 to 70 in lateral series, 
 a. Snout long, projecting far beyond the inferior mouth. 
 
 cataracta, 281 
 
 aa. Snout shorter, not projecting far beyond the subinferior mouth. 
 
 atronasus, 281 
 
 Rhinichthys cataractse (Cuvier & Valenciennes) . LONG-NOSED DACE. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.1; depth 4.8 to 5.2; D. 8; A. 7 ; scales 63 to 70. 
 
 Body elongate, scarcely compressed; head long, the snout over- 
 hanging the mouth; mouth small, inferior, tip of the upper lip on 
 level with point half way between orbit and chin; maxillary 2.9 to 
 
 FIG. 46. LONG-NOSED DACE. 
 
 Rhinichthys cataractas (C. and V.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 3.1 in head; lower jaw much shorter than the upper; snout 2.2 to 
 2.5 in head; diameter of eye 4.8 to 5.6; teeth 2.4-4.2; dorsal fin be- 
 hind ventrals, much nearer base of caudal than tip of snout. 
 
 Color olivaceous above, paler below; sides with dark blotches; 
 an indistinct dark lateral band; a black spot on opercle. 
 
 Length about 2% inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Wisconsin to New England and Virginia. 
 
 Rhinichthys atronasus (Mitchill). BLACK-NOSED DACE. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.2; depth 4.5 to 5.0; D. 8; A. 7 to 8; scales 62 to 71. 
 
 Body elongate, scarcely compressed; head long, wider than deep; 
 mouth small, subterminal, slightly oblique; tip of upper' lip on level 
 with lower margin of orbit ; maxillary scarcely reaching past anterior 
 nostril, its length 3.3 to 4.0 in head; snout long, 2.7 to 3.0 in head; 
 teeth 2, 4-4, 2 ; dorsal fin behind ventrals, nearer base of caudal than 
 tip of snout; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color dusky to blackish above; the back and sides mottled with 
 
282 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 FIG. 47. BLACK-NOSED DACE. 
 
 Rhinichthys atronasus (Mitch.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 darker; a dark lateral band bordered below with a light streak; a 
 distinct blackish spot at base of dorsal behind. 
 
 Length 2 to 3 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Minnesota to New England, Virginia and 
 Alabama. 
 
 Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; Pettibone Creek, North Chicago, 
 Illinois; Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Cyprinus (Artedi) Linnaeus. 
 THE CARPS. 
 
 Body robust, compressed, the dorsal region elevated; mouth 
 rather small, with 4 barbels; snout blunt, rounded; pharyngeal teeth 
 molar-like, i, i, 3-3, i, i in number; scales large; dorsal fin long, its 
 first rays forming a strong serrated spine ; anal fin with similar spine ; 
 lateral line complete. 
 
 Cyprinus carpio Linnasus. CARP; GERMAN CARP. 
 
 Head 3 to 4; depth 2.7 to 3.3; D. i, 20; A. 1.5; scales 38. 
 
 Body robust anteriorly, more or less compressed; mouth terminal, 
 slightly oblique; interorbital space nearly flat, 2.3 to 2.7 in head; 
 eye 5.5 to 6.8; snout 2.6 to 3.3; maxillary not reaching past anterior 
 nostril, 3.3 to 3.9 in head; two pairs of maxillary barbels, the upper 
 shorter, the lower longer than the eye; dorsal and anal each with a 
 strong posteriorly serrated spine; insertion of dorsal slightly in front 
 of ventrals. 
 
 Color olivaceous, upper parts dusky to bluish; lower parts of 
 sides and belly more or less yellowish. 
 
 There are three varieties of carp. Those covered with scales are 
 known as Scale Carp, those partially covered with scales are Mirror 
 Carp, those without scales are Leather Carp. 
 
 Length, 2 feet or more. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 283 
 
 FIG. 48. GERMAN CARP; LEATHER CARP. 
 
 Cyprinus carpio L. (After Goode.) 
 
 An introduced species which has become established in many 
 streams of the northern half of the United States. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, 
 Illinois; Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Millers, 
 Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine; Indiana. 
 
 Genus Carassius Nilsson. 
 
 GOLD FISHES. 
 
 Body oblong, more or less compressed, varying greatly; phar- 
 yngeal teeth 4-4 ; the dorsal region elevated ; dorsal fin long, its first 
 rays spine-like; the second or third long and serrated behind; anal 
 short with similar spine; lateral line complete. 
 
 a. Soft anal rays 5 to 6 ; scales in lateral series 28 to 32. 
 
 carassius, 283 
 aa. Soft anal rays 7 to 8; scales in lateral series 25 to 27. 
 
 auratus, 284 
 
 Carassius carassius (Linnaeus). CRUCIAN CARP; GOLD FISH. 
 
 Head 3; depth 2%"; D. in, 18; A. m, 5; scales 28 to 32. 
 
 Body robust, covered with large scales; dorsal and anal fins with 
 strong spines, serrated behind; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color dark brown, becoming golden-yellow to silvery under do- 
 mestication. 
 
 Length about 12 inches. 
 
284 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 This fish is generally distributed over central and northern Europe 
 and Siberia. It was introduced for aquariums, and is now thriving 
 in the lagoons in the parks of Chicago. 
 
 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus). GOLD FISH. 
 
 Head 3X; depth 1%; D. in, 18; A. in, 7; scales 26. 
 
 Body robust, compressed; scales larger than in preceding species; 
 dorsal and anal each with strong spines, serrated behind; lateral line 
 complete. 
 
 Color as in preceding species. 
 
 Length about 10 inches. 
 
 Native of China and Japan. Introduced for aquariums, but it 
 is now abundant in the lagoons in the parks in Chicago. In breeding 
 many varieties have been produced. 
 
 Order 
 
 THE EELS. 
 
 Body very elongate; vertebras numerous, the anterior ones dis- 
 tinct and without Weberian ossicles ; ventral fins absent ; fins without 
 spines; skeleton bony; mesocoracoid absent. 
 
 Family Anguillidee. 
 
 THE TRUE EELS. 
 
 Body elongate, snake-like; covered with fine embedded scales; 
 head without scales; vertebras numerous, the anterior ones not mod- 
 ified; fins without spines; dorsal and anal fins continuous with the 
 caudal; tail isocercal; gill openings small; mouth terminal, the jaws 
 about equal; teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; air bladder with 
 open duct. 
 
 Genus Anguilla Shaw. 
 EELS. 
 
 Body elongate, slightly compressed; head large; mouth large, 
 jaws about equal; dorsal caudal and anal fins connected. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 285 
 
 Anguilla rostrata. (Le Sueur). AMERICAN EEL; FRESH-WATER EEL. 
 
 Head 7 or 8; depth 12 to 17; D. about 60. 
 
 Body elongate, subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly; 
 snout pointed, the maxillary reaching past orbit; lips thin; the lower 
 jaw the longer; gill membranes very broadly joined across isthmus, 
 the gill openings small; scales minute, oblong in oblique rows or 
 bunches each at right angles with the other; no ventrals; lateral line 
 complete. 
 
 Length 3 to 4 feet. 
 
 This eel inhabits the West Indies, and the larger streams of North 
 America east of the Rockies. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana. 
 
 Order ISOSpOfldyli, 
 
 HERRING, SHAD, AND SALMON. 
 
 Skeleton bony; anterior vertebrae simple, without Weberian 
 ossicles ; dorsal and anal fins without spines ; ventral fins abdominal ; 
 adipose fin present or absent ; pectoral arch suspended from the skull ; 
 mesocoracoid developed; opercle well developed ; maxillary distinct, 
 forming a part of margin of upper jaw; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. 
 
 a. No adipose fin; belly behind ventrals, narrow, the scales not 
 passing over its median line. 
 
 b. Lateral line present, well developed. Hiodontidce , 285 
 bb. Lateral line absent. 
 
 c. Last dorsal ray much produced; mouth small, subinferior, 
 toothless. Dorosomidce, 287 
 
 cc. Last dorsal ray not produced beyond the others; mouth large, 
 terminal. Clupeidoe, 288 
 
 aa. Adipose fin present; belly rounded and covered with scales. 
 
 Salmonidce, 289 
 
 Family Iliodoiit i<l;t'. 
 
 THE MOONEYES. 
 
 Body deep, much compressed, covered with silvery cycloid scales; 
 head naked; jaws, vomer, palatines, and pterygoids with small cardi- 
 
286 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 form teeth; premaxillary not protractile; no adipose fin; caudal fin 
 forked; gill membranes free from the isthmus; gill rakers few, short; 
 stomach horseshoe-shaped, without .blind sac; pyloric coeca i; air 
 bladder large, with open duct ; no oviducts, the eggs falling into the 
 body cavity before extrusion. 
 
 Genus Hiodoii Le Sueur. 
 
 Body much compressed, the ventral surface reduced to a narrow 
 edge or keel; belly not serrated; head without scales; mouth ter- 
 minal, rather large, oblique, and armed with sharp teeth; premax- 
 illary not protractile. 
 
 a. Belly in front of ventrals with a sharp edge over which the scales 
 do not pass; dorsal fin with 9 developed rays, alosoides, 286 
 aa. Belly in front of ventrals without sharp edge, the scales pass- 
 Ing over it ; dorsal fin with 1 1 or 12 developed rays. 
 
 tergisus, 286 
 
 Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque). NORTHERN MOONEYE. 
 
 Head 4.5 to 4.9; depth 3.3 to 3.7; D. 9; A. 31; scales 56 to 58. 
 
 Body elongate, much compressed; head rather small; mouth 
 large, the jaws armed with sharp teeth; interorbital space 3.6 to 4.0 
 in head; diameter of eye 3.6 to 4.0; snout 4.9 to 5.9; dorsal fin in- 
 serted behind front of anal ; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color bluish above; sides and belly silvery, with more or less 
 golden lustre anteriorly and bluish and pinkish posteriorly. 
 
 Length about 12 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from the Saskatchewan through the Great Lake 
 Region to Ohio, being most abundant in the northern part of its 
 range. 
 
 Hiodon tergisus Le Sueur. TOOTHED HERRING; MOONEYE. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.4; depth 3.0 to 3.3; D. nor 12; A. 28; scales 55. 
 
 Body much compressed, mouth smaller than in preceding species, 
 the jaws armed with pointed teeth, interorbital space 3.9 to 4.0 in 
 head; diameter of eye 2.8 to 3.6; snout 4.0 to 5.5*; maxillary not 
 reaching past middle of orbit, its length 2.1 to 2.5 in head; dorsal fin 
 inserted in front of anal; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color pale olive-buff above, with faint steel-blue lustre; sides 
 silvery, lighter below. 
 
 Length 10 or 12 inches. 
 
 The range of this fish is much the same as the preceding. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 287 
 
 FIG. 49. TOOTHED HERRING; MOONEYE. 
 
 Hiodon tergisus Le Sueur. (After Goode.) 
 
 Family Dorosomidae. 
 
 THE GIZZARD SHAD. 
 
 Body short and deep, much compressed, covered with thin cycloid 
 scales; head without scales; belly sharp edged, armed with bony 
 serrae ; ventral fins abdominal ; last ray of dorsal fin much prolonged ; 
 gill membranes free from the isthmus; gill rakers slender and very 
 numerous; adipose eyelid present; mouth small; premaxillary not 
 protractile; maxillary with a supplemental bone; jaws without teeth, 
 stomach short, muscular, like the gizzard of a fowl. 
 
 Genus Dorosoma Rafinesque. 
 GIZZARD SHAD. 
 
 Body much compressed; head without scales ; no lateral line ; last 
 dorsal ray produced into a long filament. 
 
 Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur). GIZZARD SHAD; HICKORY SHAD. 
 Head 3.7 to 4.3; depth 2.6 to 2.9; D. 12; A. 30 or 31; scales 56 
 to 57- 
 
 Body deep, much compressed; head deep posteriorly, tapering to 
 a rather bluntish snout; mouth small, subinferior, without teeth; in- 
 terorbital space 3.6 to 4.3 in head; diameter of eye 3.4 to 4.8; snout 
 4.9 to 6.1 ; dorsal fin inserted about midway between tip of snout and 
 base of caudal, the last ray elongated, its tip reaching past middle 
 of anal; lateral line absent; ventral scutes 19+12 or 13. 
 
288 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 FIG. 50. GIZZARD SHAD; HICKORY SHAD. 
 
 Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur). (After Goode.) 
 
 Color silvery, bluish above, with reddish and brassy reflections; 
 a large dark spot behind opercle, most conspicuous in the young; 
 fins more or less dusky. 
 
 Length usually less than 12 inches. 
 
 This species is abundant in the lakes and sluggish streams from the 
 Atlantic and Gulf States to the Mississippi Valley, and southward to 
 Yucatan. 
 
 Family Clupeidse. 
 
 THE HERRINGS. 
 
 Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed, covered with 
 cycloid scales; head naked; belly rounded or compressed and ser- 
 rated; no adipose fin; gill membranes free from the isthmus; gill 
 rakers slender; mouth terminal oblique; premaxillaries not pro- 
 tractile; teeth usually small or wanting; air bladder large, with open 
 duct. 
 
 Genus Pomolobus Rafinesque. 
 
 ALEWIVES. 
 
 Body rather elongate, compressed; head pointed, mouth terminal, 
 teeth minute; belly sharp-edged, strongly serrated before and behind 
 ventrals; dorsal fin nearly median, its last ray not produced. 
 
 Pomolobus chrysochloris Rafinesque. GOLDEN SHAD; SKIPJACK; 
 BLUE HERRING. 
 Head 3.7 to 4.3; depth 3.6 to 4.3; D. 16; A. 18; scales 52 to 54. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 289 
 
 Body elongate, compressed; head pointed, mouth terminal, the 
 lower jaw the longer; interorbital space 5.8 to 6.3 in head; diameter 
 of eye 4.5 to 5.9; snout 4.3 to 5.2; maxillary reaching past middle of 
 orbit, its length 2.2 to 2.4 in head; origin of dorsal fin nearer tip of 
 snout than base of caudal, in front of ventrals; no lateral line; ven- 
 tral scutes 20+13. 
 
 Color silvery to greenish with bluish and golden reflections; back 
 light olive-gray, sides light olive-green, belly opaque, silvery-white. 
 
 Length about 15 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits the Gulf streams from Florida to Texas, ascend- 
 ing the Mississippi and its larger tributaries to Pennsylvania and 
 Kansas. 
 
 Family Sahnoiiidji'. 
 
 THE SALMON. TROUT AND WHITEFISHES. 
 
 Body oblong or elongate, covered with cycloid scales; head naked; 
 mouth terminal, the maxillaries forming its lateral margins; supple- 
 mental maxillary present; premaxillaries not protractile; adipose 
 fin present ; gill membranes free from the isthmus ; stomach siphonal ; 
 pyloric cceca numerous; air bladder large, with open duct; ova large, 
 falling into the abdominal cavity before exclusion. 
 
 a. Mouth not deeply cleft, the articulation of lower jaws before or 
 under the eye; teeth none or minute; scales moderate, 60 to 95 
 in lateral series. 
 
 b. Mouth small; premaxillary broad, its cutting edge vertical or 
 directed backward; lower jaw the shorter; gill rakers on long 
 limb of first arch fewer than 30. Coregonus, 290 
 
 bb. Mouth larger; premaxillary narrow, its cutting edge nearly 
 horizontal and directed forward; jaws equal or the lower the 
 longer; gill rakers on long limb of first arch more than 35. 
 
 A rgyrosomus , 291 
 
 aa. Mouth deeply cleft; the articulation of the lower jaw behind 
 the eye; strong teeth on jaws, vomer, palatines, and tongue; 
 scales small, more than 100 in the lateral series. 
 
 c. Vomer flat, teeth on shaft in alternating rows or in one zigzag 
 row; body with dark spots. Salmo, 293 
 
 cc. Vomer boat-shaped, the shaft strongly depressed and without 
 teeth; with white or gray spots. Cristivomer, 294 
 
290 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Genus Coregoiius (Artedi) Linnaeus. 
 THE WHITEFISHES. 
 
 Body more or less elongate, moderately compressed; head small, 
 conical, the blunt snout formed by the broad premaxillary ; premax- 
 illary with cutting edge nearly vertical; lower jaw the shorter; jaws 
 toothless or nearly so ; gill rakers usually short ; caudal deeply forked ; 
 pyloric cceca about 100; air bladder large. 
 
 a. Body compressed, the dorsal region much elevated; gill rakers 
 17 to 20 on lower limb of first gill arch; head short, 5 to 5.3 in 
 body. albus, 290 
 
 aa. Body long, slender, the dorsal region little elevated; gill rakers 
 ii or 12 on lower limb of first arch; head longer, 3.7 to 4.3 in 
 body. quadrilateralis, 291 
 
 Coregonus albus Le Sueur. COMMON WHITEFISH. 
 Head 5 to 5.3; depth 3 to 4; D. 11 ; A. 10; scales 74. 
 Body oblong, compressed, the back elevated; head very small; 
 
 FIG 51. COMMON WHITEFISH. 
 
 Coregonus albus Le Sueur. (After Evermann and Smith.) 
 
 interorbital space 3.4 in head; diameter of eye 4 to 5 ; snout 3.8 ; max- 
 illary reaching past front of orbit ; its length about 4 in head ; lower 
 jaw the shorter; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color olivaceous above, sides white, not silvery; lower fins some- 
 times dusky. 
 
 Great Lakes and neighboring waters. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Pine and Mil- 
 lers, Indiana. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 291 
 
 Coregpnus quadrilateralis Richardson. MENOMINEE WHITEFISH. 
 
 Heads; depth 4. 7; D. n; A. 10; scales 80 to 90. 
 
 Body elongate, not much compressed, the dorsal region little 
 elevated; head long, the snout compressed and bluntly pointed; in- 
 terorbital space 3.5 in head; diameter of eye 4.7 to 5.5; snout 3.8; 
 mouth narrow, small, the maxillary not reaching eye; gill rakers 
 short and stoutish, 7+10 in number, lower jaw the shorter; lateral 
 line complete. 
 
 Color dark bluish above, silvery below. 
 
 Length 1 5 inches. 
 
 Lakes of New England, Great Lakes to the Yukon. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago. 
 
 Genus Argyrosomus Agassiz. 
 
 CISCOES; LAKE HERRINGS. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; head larger, the snout pointed, 
 the premaxillary with its cutting edge nearly horizontal; lower jaw 
 the longer; jaws toothless or nearly so; gill rakers long and slender; 
 about 40 on the lower limb; caudal fin deeply forked. 
 
 a. Lower fins pale, or slightly tipped with darker. 
 
 b. Eye large, its diameter not much if any less than^the length 
 of the snout, 3.5 to 4.5 in head. 
 
 c. Maxillary 3.3 to 3.6 in head; lower jaw projecting beyond the 
 upper; gill rakers long and numerous, about 47 on first arch. 
 
 huronius, 291 
 
 cc. Maxillary 2.6 to 3.0 in head, lower jaw scarcely projecting; gill 
 
 rakers 39 to 40 on first gill arch. hoyi, 292 
 
 bb. Eye small, its diameter less than length of snout, about 5 in 
 
 head; mandible half as long as head. prognathus, 292 
 
 aa. Lower fins blue black; gill rakers at least 50 on the first arch. 
 
 nigripinnis, 293 
 Argyrosomus huronius Jordan & Evermann. LAKE HERRING; 
 
 Cisco AND BLUEBACK HERRING OF LAKE MICHIGAN. 
 Head 4.1 to 4.5; depth 4.5 to 5.2; D. 10; A. 12; scales 75 to 90. 
 Body elongate, not much compressed; head rather long pointed; 
 mouth large, the maxillary reaching nearly to middle of the pupil; 3.2 
 to 3.5 in head; lower jaw the longer; mandible 2.1 in head; inter- 
 orbital space 3.3 in head; diameter of eye 4.0 to 4.5 ; snout 3.5 to 4.0; 
 gill rakers long and slender, 15 to 17+28 to 34 on first arch; lateral 
 line complete. 
 
292 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 FIG. 52. CISCOE AND BLUEBACK HERRING OF LAKE MICHIGAN. 
 
 Argyrosomus huronius Jord. and Ever. (After Evermann and Smith.) 
 
 Color bluish black or greenish above; sides silvery; fins mostly 
 pale, the lower dusky tinged. 
 
 Lakes Huron and Michigan. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Pine and 
 Millers, Indiana. 
 
 Argyrosomus hoyi Gill. KIEYE; CHUB. 
 
 Head 4.5 to 4.8; depth 4.1 to 4.5; D. 10; A. n; scales 73 to 80. 
 
 Body robust, little compressed; head pointed; mouth rather 
 large; the jaws about equal; maxillary middle of pupil, 2.6 to 3.0 in 
 head; mandible 2.2 in head; interorbital space 3.6 to 4.3; diameter 
 of eye 4.2 to 4.6; snout 3.4 to 3.8; gill rakers 14+25 or 26 on first 
 arch; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color blue on back; sides and ventral surface silvery; dorsal, 
 caudal, and pectoral fins with some dark on their margins. 
 
 Length 13 inches. 
 
 Southern and western Lake Michigan. 
 
 Pine, Indiana; Millers, Indiana. 
 
 Argyrosomus prognathus (H. M. Smith). LONGJAW; BLOATER. 
 
 Head 4.3; depth 3.5 to 4; D. 9 or 10; A. 10 or 12; scales 75. 
 
 Body robust, moderately compressed; head pointed; mouth 
 large, maxillary reaching pupil, 2.5 in head; mandible 1.7 to 1.8 in 
 head; lower jaw projecting beyond the upper; interorbital space 6.8 
 in head; diameter of eye 5; snout 6.8; gill rakers slender, about 
 15+28 on first gill arch; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color dusky above, the sides silvery; dorsal and caudal fins usually 
 with dark edge. 
 
 Length 15 inches. 
 
 Deep water of Lakes Ontario, Huron and Michigan. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 293 
 
 Argyrosomus nigripinnis Gill. BLACKFIN. 
 
 Head 4; depth 4; D. 12; A. 12; scales 73 to 77. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; head large, snout pointed; 
 mouth large; diameter of eye 4. 2; lower jaw slightly projecting; gill 
 rakers about 18+30 on first gill arch. 
 
 FIG. 53. BLACKFIN. 
 
 Argyrosomus nigripinnis Gill. (After Evermann and Smith.) 
 
 Color bluish above, sides silvery, with dark punctulations ; fins 
 all blue black. 
 
 Lake Michigan and some of the lakes of Wisconsin and Minnesota. 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago. 
 
 Genus Salnio (Artedi) Linnaeus. 
 THE TROUT. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; mouth large; jaws with 
 teeth; vomer flat, its shaft not depressed; teeth on anterior part of 
 vomer, followed by a double or irregular series of teeth; scales small. 
 
 Salmo gairdneri Richardson. STEELHEAD; SALMON TROUT. 
 
 Head 4.5; depth 4.3; D. n; A. 12; scales 130 to 180. 
 
 Body elongate, more or less compressed; head short, slender, the 
 upper surface convex; mouth large, the maxillary reaching middle of 
 eye; lower jaw the shorter; teeth rather small, those on vomer in two 
 long alternating series; gill rakers short and thick, 8 + 12 on first arch; 
 lateral line complete. 
 
 Color olivaceous green above; sides silvery; head, back, and upper 
 fins more or less covered with black spots; in the spring both sexes 
 usually have a broad flesh-colored lateral band which rapidly fades. 
 
294 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 FIG. 54 STEELHEAD; SALMON TROUT. 
 
 Salmo gairdneri Richardson. (After Goode.) 
 
 A Pacific Coast fish introduced into the Great Lakes ; occasionally 
 taken at Pine and Millers, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Cristivomer Gill & Jordan. 
 LAKE TROUT. 
 
 Body moderately elongate; mouth large, hyoid with a band of 
 strong teeth; jaws with teeth; vomer boat-shaped, with a raised 
 crest behind its head and free from its shaft; crest of vomer with 
 teeth; scales small. 
 
 Cristivomer namaycush (Walbaum).LAKE TROUT ;MACKIN AW TROUT. 
 
 Head 3.8 to 4.2; depth 4 to 5.2; D. n; A. n; scales 185 to 210. 
 
 Body elongate, head large, its upper surface flattened; interorbital 
 space 3.2 to 3.9 in head; snout 3.2 to 3.5; mouth large, the maxillary 
 reaching beyond eye; its length about half that of head; teeth very 
 strong; lateral line complete. 
 
 Color grayish green to brownish, to almost black; sides with 
 round pale spots; head usually vermiculate above ; dorsal and caudal 
 reticulated with darker, the anal faintly so. 
 
 Length 3 feet. 
 
 This fish inhabits the colder lakes and streams of North America 
 from Alaska, Northern Illinois to Maine and northward. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 295 
 
 Order 
 
 ~? " 
 
 PIKE-LIKE FISHES. 
 
 Skeleton bony; anterior vertebras distinct; ventral fins abdom- 
 inal, rarely wanting; all of the fins of soft rays; no adipose fin; pec- 
 toral arch suspended from the skull; mesocoracoid wanting; oper- 
 cular bones well developed ; air bladder with a distinct duct. 
 
 a. Lateral line present; jaws long and with large canine-like 
 teeth. Esocida, 295 
 
 aa. Lateral line wanting ; jaws without canine-like teeth. 
 
 b. Upper jaw not protractile. Umbridcz, 297 
 bb. Upper jaw protractile. Pceciliidoe, 298 
 
 Family Esocidse. 
 THE PIKES. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed posteriorly; scales small, 
 cycloid; top of head naked, its sides partly scaled; ventral fins ab- 
 dominal; mouth large; premaxillaries not protractile; jaws, vomer, 
 palatines, and tongue with teeth; stomach not ccecal; no pyloric 
 cceca; air bladder simple, with distinct duct. 
 
 Genus Esox (Artedij Linnaeus. 
 THE PIKES. 
 
 Body very elongate ; head depressed ; lateral line present ; branch- 
 iostegals 12 to 20; gill rakers short, toothed; gill membranes sepa- 
 rate; most of margin of the upper jaw formed by the maxillary; 
 supplemental maxillary present; some of the teeth on jaws and vomer 
 large and canine-like, a few being hinged; dorsal fin above anal, on 
 posterior part of the body. 
 
 a. Cheeks and opercles entirely scaly; branchiostegals n or 12; 
 dorsal rays 12 ; fewer than no scales in the lateral series. 
 
 vermiculatus , 296 
 
 aa. Cheeks entirely scaly; lower half of opercle without scales; 
 branchiostegals 14 to 1 6 ; dorsal rays 1 4 to 1 6 ; about 125 scales 
 in the lateral series. lucius, 296 
 
296 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 aaa. Lower half of cheeks and opercles without scales; branch- 
 iostegals 17 to 19; dorsal rays 17; about 150 scales in the lateral 
 series. masquinongy , 297 
 
 Esox vermiculatus Le Sueur. LITTLE PICKEREL; GRASS PIKE. 
 
 Head 3.0 to 3.4; depth 5.2 to 6.7; D. 12; A. 12; scales 103 to 1 08. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; head depressed; inter- 
 orbital concave; mouth large, the maxillary reaching past anterior 
 margin of eye, its length 2.0 to 2.4 in head; snout 2.4 to 2.7 ; eye situ- 
 ated in middle of the head, its diameter 5.5 to 6.8; branchiostegals n 
 or 12; cheeks and opercles with scales; depth of caudal peduncle 2.0 
 to 2.6 in head; caudal fin forked. 
 
 Color grayish green with darker streaks and reticulations on sides, 
 lighter below; a dusky streak from eye across cheek and opercle, and 
 one below eye; caudal fin mottled near base ; other fins plain, dusky. 
 
 Length 12 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits ponds, lakes, and sluggish streams, whose veg- 
 etation is plentiful, from Wisconsin to Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Bull 
 Creek, Beach, Illinois; Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois; Lagoon, Jackson 
 Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Salt 
 Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Wolf 
 Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake George, Indiana; Lagoon, Buffington, 
 Indiana; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, Indiana. 
 
 Esox lucius Linnaeus. COMMON PIKE; PICKEREL. 
 
 Head 2.9 to 3.6; depth 5.0 to 7.0; D. i5ori6; A. 14 or 15; scales 
 122 to 125. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed; mouth very large, the maxillary 
 reaching past orbit, its length 2.0 to 2.2 in head; snout 1.9 to 2.4; 
 eye in middle of head, its diameter 5.8 to 9.5; branchiostegals 14 to 
 16; cheeks with scales; lower half of opercle without scales; depth 
 of caudal peduncle 1.7 to 2.2; caudal fin forked. 
 
 Color of back and sides bluish or greenish gray, yellowish below 
 and white on ventral surface; sides with irregular, light colored 
 spots; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins with roundish black spots; ven- 
 trals with faint traces of spots; pectorals plain. 
 
 Length 3 feet. 
 
 This species inhabits the larger streams and lakes of Northern 
 Europe, Asia, and North America. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 297 
 
 Des Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; 
 Calumet River, Clark, Indiana. 
 
 Esox masquinongy Mitchill. MUSKALONGE. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.0; depth 6; D. 17 to 18; A. 15 to 17; scales 150. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed; mouth very large, maxillary reaching 
 past eye, it's length 2 in head; snout 2.2 ; diameter of eye 10.6 ; branch- 
 iostegals 17 or 18; lower half of cheeks and opercles without scales; 
 caudal fin forked. 
 
 Color dark-gray, sides with round dark spots, the young with bars ; 
 fins with black spots. 
 
 Length 3 to 6 feet, reaching a weight of 100 pounds. 
 
 This species inhabits the large lakes and streams of the Great 
 Lake region and Upper Mississippi Valley. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Family Umbridse. 
 THE MUDFISHES. 
 
 Body elongate, subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly; 
 head and body covered with cycloid scales; ventral fins abdominal; 
 dorsal fin posterior, above anal; mouth rather small, premaxillary 
 not protractile; lower jaw, votner, and palatines with bands of villi- 
 form teeth; stomach without blind sac; air bladder simple, with 
 distinct duct; no lateral line. 
 
 Genus Umbra (Kramer) Miiller. 
 
 Body elongate, top of head flat, lateral line wanting; branchios- 
 tegals 6 to 8; gill rakers little developed; gill membranes little con- 
 nected; lateral margin of the upper jaw formed by the maxillaries; 
 supplemental maxillary absent. 
 
 Umbra limi (Kirtland). MUD MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.3 to 3.8; depth 3.9 to 5.3; D. 14 or 15; A. 8 or 9; scales 35. 
 
 Body elongate; compressed posteriorly; head flat, covered with 
 scales, those on opercles large and imbedded; mouth rather large, the 
 maxillary reaching nearly to eye; interorbital space flat or flattish 
 4.3 to 5.4 in head; eye 3.8 to 5.2 ; snout 2.8 to 3.5; dorsal fin inserted 
 behind ventrals and on posterior half of body, its distance from tip 
 
298 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 of snout 1.3 to 1.8 in body; pectorals broad, 1.6 to 2.0 in head; ven- 
 trals small; caudal peduncle deep, 1.3 to 1.6 in its length; caudal 
 fin rounded. 
 
 Color of upper parts dull brownish olive mottled with black; sides 
 with about 14 indefinite narrow transverse bars of dark color, the 
 interspaces bluish forward; breast, belly, and under sides of head 
 
 FIG. 55. MUD MINNOW. 
 
 Umbra limi (Kirtland). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 yellowish; a large black blotch-like bar at end of caudal peduncle; 
 a black stripe across cheek and through the eye to the snout; fins 
 plain olive-green. 
 
 Length 4 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits muddy ponds and streams from Minnesota to 
 Quebec and the Ohio River. 
 
 Artesian Overflow, Beach, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, 
 Illinois; Lagoon, South Chicago, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; 
 Willow Springs, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Lagoon, 
 Buffington, Indiana; Lagoon, Clark Junction, Indiana; Lagoon, 
 Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Family Poeciliiclse 
 
 THE KILLIFISHES. 
 
 Body elongate, the head depressed, the posterior half compressed; 
 scales large, cycloid ; head scaly; mouth small, terminal, the premax- 
 illary extremely protractile; fins without spines; caudal fin not forked; 
 gill membranes connected, free from the isthmus; branchiostegals 
 4 to 6; gill rakers short; dorsal fin single, on posterior half of body; 
 ventral fins abdominal; stomach siphonal, without pyloric append- 
 ages; air bladder simple, often wanting; some species ovoviviparous ; 
 size small. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 299 
 
 Genus Fimdulus Lacepede. 
 KILL.IFISHES. 
 
 Body rather elongate, little elevated, compressed posteriorly; 
 head broad flat above, scaly; mouth moderate, lower jaw projecting; 
 jaws each with two or more series of pointed teeth; dorsal and anal 
 fins similar in size; scales large. 
 
 a." Dorsal fin long, its rays 13 or 14; scales small, 43 to 45 in lateral 
 series; color olivaceous with numerous dusky crossbars. 
 
 menona, 299 
 aa. Dorsal fin short, its rays 7 to 9; scales larger, 28 to 36 in lateral 
 
 series. 
 
 b. Sides with numerous lengthwise streaks in female, the male 
 
 with dark crossbars. dispar, 299 
 
 bb. Sides with a single black band from head to tail; males with 
 
 obscure crossbars. notatus, 300 
 
 Fundulus diaphanus menona (Jordan & Copeland) . MENONA TOP 
 
 MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 3.9; depth 4.5 to 5.3; D. 13 or 14; A. n; scales 43 
 to 45. 
 
 Body rather slender, not much compressed; head flat above; 
 mouth small, maxillary 3.6 to 4.0 in head; lower jaw slightly pro- 
 jecting; diameter of eye 3.0 to 3.5 in head; snout 2.9 to 3.7 in head; 
 teeth in jaws, curved, the outer ones scarcely enlarged; dorsal in- 
 serted in front of ventrals; caudal fin rounded; cheeks and opercles 
 covered with large scales. 
 
 Color of males light olivaceous, spotted with dusky on back and 
 sides; 15 to 20 dark transverse bars on each side, broader than the 
 silvery interspaces; females with dark bars shorter and narrower, the 
 interspaces wider than the bars. 
 
 Length 3 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits small streams and lakes with clear water from 
 Wisconsin and Illinois to Maine. 
 
 Des Plaines River, Libertyville, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, In- 
 diana; Lake George, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Whiting, Indiana. 
 
 Fundulus dispar (Agassiz). 
 
 Head 3.5 to 4.3; depth 3.5 to 4.3; 0.7; A. gorio; scales 34 to 36. 
 
 Body elongate, rather robust; head flat above; mouth small, the 
 lower jaw scarcely projecting; maxillary 2.8 to 3.3 in head; diameter 
 
300 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 of eye 2.8 to 3.4; snout 2.8 to 3.7; teeth in jaws pointed, rather 
 weak; dorsal fin inserted behind ventrals; caudal fin rounded; cheeks 
 and opercles covered with large scales. 
 
 Color light-olive, the males with about 10 narrow dusky trans- 
 verse bars, females with 9 or 10 brown wavy longitudinal lines; 
 adults of both sexes with a triangular bluish blotch below the eye. 
 
 Length 2^ inches. 
 
 This small fish inhabits quiet waters from Northern Illinois to 
 Ohio and Mississippi. 
 
 Fox Lake, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lagoon, Edge- 
 moor, Indiana. 
 
 Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque). TOP MINNOW. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 3.9; depth 4.4 to 5.3; D. 9; A. n; scales 33 to 34. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed posteriorly; head much depressed; 
 mouth moderate; maxillary 2.8 to 3.3 in head; upper jaw slighty 
 the longer; diameter of eye 3.3 to 3.9; snout 2.8 to 3.4; teeth in a 
 
 FIG. 56. TOP MINNOW. 
 
 Fundulus notatus (Raf.) (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 broad band, the outer series considerably enlarged; dorsal inserted 
 behind ventrals; caudal fin rounded; cheeks and opercles covered 
 with large scales. 
 
 Color brownish olive with a dark lateral band, which in males is 
 crossed with 16 or 17 obscure dusky bars; vertical fins more or less 
 speckled with dusky. 
 
 Length 2^ to 3 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Iowa to Michigan, Alabama, and Texas. 
 It usually swims near the surface in quiet clear waters. 
 
 Fox River, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 301 
 
 Order Acanthopteri. 
 
 THE SPINY-RAYED FISHES. 
 
 Skeleton bony; the anterior vertebrae not modified; anterior rays 
 of dorsal and anal fin usually spinous ; opercular apparatus complete ; 
 border of the mouth formed by premaxillaries ; maxillary present, 
 and without teeth ; ventral fins usually thoracic and usually formed of 
 i spine and 5 soft rays; air bladder present, without duct in the adult; 
 scales when present usually ctenoid. 
 
 a. Ventral fins abdominal. 
 
 b. Dorsal fin single preceded by 4 or more spines, not connected 
 by a membrane; no adipose fin. G aster osteida, 302 
 
 bb. Dorsal fins 2 ; spines connected by a membrane. 
 
 c. Anterior dorsal composed of one weak spine and soft rays; 
 the second dorsal adipose. Percopsidce, 303 
 
 cc. Anterior dorsal composed of 3 to 8 slender spines connected 
 by a membrane ; the posterior fin composed of soft rays. 
 
 AtherinidcB, 304 
 aa. Ventral fins thoracic. 
 
 d. Ventral rays of one spine and 6 or 7 soft rays; vent near the 
 throat. Aphredoderidce, 305 
 
 dd. Ventral rays of one spine and 3 to 5 soft rays; vent near anal 
 fin. 
 
 e. Chin without a barbel; dorsal and anal fins of less than 30 soft 
 rays; caudal fin homocercal. 
 
 f. Body more or less covered by typical scales. 
 
 g. Lateral line not extending on rays of caudal fin; jaws with 
 teeth. 
 
 h. Dorsal fin with spinous portion confluent with soft portion, or 
 separated by a deep notch in which case the longest dorsal 
 spine is but little more than % length of longest soft ray. 
 
 Centrar chides, 306 
 
 hh. Dorsal fins with spinous and soft portions separate, or if slightly 
 confluent the longest dorsal spine is longer than longest soft ray. 
 Anal fin with i or 2 spines. Percidce, 317 
 
 Anal fin with 3 spines. Serranida, 332 
 
 gg. Lateral line extending on rays of caudal fin; jaws without 
 teeth. Sci&nidce, 334 
 
302 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 ff . Body naked or variously armed with prickles or bony plates. 
 
 Cottida, 335 
 
 ee. Chin with a barbel; dorsal and anal fins with more than 30 
 rays; caudal fin isocercal. Gadida, 338 
 
 Family (irasterosteidre. 
 
 THE STICKLEBACKS. 
 
 Body fusiform tapering to a slender caudal peduncle; skin naked 
 or with bony plates ; middle and sides of belly shielded by the pubic 
 bones; mouth large, the cleft oblique; jaws with villiform teeth; 
 dorsal fins with the spines not connected by a membrane; ventrals 
 abdominal, composed of a stout spine and a rudimentary ray; pyloric 
 cceca few in number; air bladder simple. 
 
 a. Dorsal spines 4 or 5, in a straight line; tail deeper than broad, 
 
 without keel. Eucalia, 302 
 
 aa. Dorsal spines 8 to n, not in a straight line; tail not deeper than 
 
 broad, with a lateral keel. Pygosteus, 303 
 
 ' ^ 
 Genus Eucalia Jordan. 
 
 Body elongate, fusiform; skin without bony plates, dorsal spines 
 6 or fewer, in a straight line ; tail deeper than broad, and without keel ; 
 pubic bones united forming a lanceolate plate with a single strong 
 median keel. 
 
 Eucalia inconstans (Kirtland). BROOK STICKLEBACK. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 3.8; depth 3.8 to 4.4; D. iv to vi, 9 or 10; A. i, 9 
 or 10. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed; caudal peduncle not 
 keeled;, mouth small and very oblique, the maxillary not reaching the 
 
 FIG. 57. BROOK STICKLEBACK. 
 
 Eucalia inconstans (Kirtland). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 303 
 
 orbit; snout 4.0 to 5.0 in head; eye 3.2 to 3.4; caudal fin truncate or 
 slightly emarginate. 
 
 Color olivaceous with faint lighter mottlings; lower parts silvery; 
 spring males black with some red anteriorly. 
 
 Length 2^ inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits small streams and brooks from New York to 
 Iowa and the Saskatchewan. 
 
 Genus Pygosteus Brevoort. 
 NINE-SPINED STICKLEBACKS. 
 
 Body elongate; no scales; skin with bony plates along bases of 
 dorsal and anal and on caudal keel; dorsal spines 8 or more; tail 
 broader than deep, keeled; pubic bones weak, forming an elongate 
 plate with a median longitudinal groove. 
 
 Pygosteus pungitius (Linnaeus). NINE-SPINED STICKLEBACK. 
 
 Head 3.3 to 3.7; depth 5.1 to 5.6; D. ix or x, 9 or 10; A. i, 8. 
 
 Body elongate, slender; caudal peduncle with a lateral bony keel; 
 mouth larger and less oblique, the maxillary reaching nearly to orbit; 
 snout 3.3 to 3.8 in head; eye 3; caudal fin rounded or pointed. 
 
 Color olivaceous above, with small spots and irregularly barred 
 with darker; silvery below. 
 
 Length 3 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits northern Europe and northern North America. 
 
 Family Percopsidse. 
 
 THE TROUT PERCHES. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; caudal peduncle long and 
 slender; scales strongly ctenoid; head without scales; lateral line 
 present; anterior vertebras simple; ventral fins abdominal, of one 
 spine and about 8 soft rays; anal with i or 2 spines; an adipose fin 
 present; gill membranes separate, free from the isthmus; premax- 
 illaries not protractile; stomach siphonal, with about 10 well devel- 
 oped pyloric cceca; air bladder with an open duct; ova large not 
 falling into the abdominal cavity before extrusion. 
 
 Genus Percopsis Agassiz. 
 
 Body elongate; dorsal spines weak; body quite translucent; 
 preopercle not distinctly serrate; teeth present on jaws, small, villi- 
 form. 
 
304 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Percopsis guttatus Agassiz. TROUT PERCH. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 3.7; depth 3.9 to 4.5; D. i or n, 9 to n; A. i, 5 to 7; 
 scales 47 to 54. 
 
 Body elongate; not much compressed; mouth rather small, sub- 
 inferior; maxillary not reaching orbit, its length 3.0 to 4.0 in head; 
 snout 2.4 to 3.0; eye 3.5 to 4.0; dorsal fin inserted much nearer tip 
 
 FIG. 58. TROUT PERCH. 
 
 Percopsis guttatus Agassiz. (After Jordan and Evermann.) 
 
 of snout than base of caudal, nearly over ventrals; scales strongly 
 ctenoid; caudal fin deeply forked. 
 
 Color pale olive-buff above; silvery below; scales faintly edged 
 with black; 8 to 12 black spots on sides above lateral line; a dusky 
 median lateral band. 
 
 Length 6 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits the larger streams and lakes from the Sas- 
 katchewan to Hudson Bay, Delaware, and Ohio River. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana. 
 
 Family Atlierinidse. 
 
 THE SILVERSIDES. 
 
 Body elongate, somewhat compressed; scales usually cycloid; 
 head usually with scales; lateral line absent or imperfect; ventral 
 fins abdominal; two dorsal fins, the anterior consisting of 3 to 8 slender 
 spines, the posterior of soft rays; anal fin with one weak spine; gill 
 membranes not connected, free from isthmus; teeth usually present 
 on jaws; no pyloric cceca; air bladder present. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 305 
 
 Genus Labidesthes Cope. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed; head oblong; mouth small, oblique, 
 the cleft curved, the jaws prolonged into a short depressed beak; 
 lower jaw the longer; premaxillaries protractile; scales cycloid. 
 
 Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). BROOK SILVERSIDE 
 
 Head 4.1 to 4.6; depth 6 to 8; D. iv-i, 9 to n; A. i, 21 to 24; 
 scales 75 to 79. 
 
 Body elongate, very slender; head long and pointed; snout long 
 and slender, the jaws prolonged into a short depressed beak; its 
 length nearly twice diameter of eye; eye 3.5 to 4.0 in head; jaws 
 
 FIG. 59. BROOK SILVERSIDE. 
 
 Labidesthes sicculus (Cope). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 equal, edge of the upper strongly curved; cheeks and opercles 
 with scales ; ventrals abdominal ; caudal fin forked ; lateral line repre- 
 sented on a few scales only. 
 
 Color pale olive-green, translucent; a distinct silvery lateral band, 
 bounded above by a dark line; back dotted with black. 
 
 Length 3 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Iowa to New York, Florida, and Texas. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry,. Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake 
 George, Indiana. 
 
 Family Aphredoderidee. 
 
 THE PIRATE PERCHES. 
 
 Body moderately elongate, compressed; dorsal region elevated; 
 caudal peduncle thick; body and sides of head with strongly ctenoid 
 scales; ventral fins thoracic, with a small spine and more than 5 soft 
 rays; dorsal fin single, with 3 or 4 small spines; anal fin with 2 slender 
 spines; gill membranes slightly joined to isthmus; gill rakers short 
 and thick, toothed; preopercle and preorbital sharply serrate; opercle 
 with a spine; air bladder simple, duct not evident; pyloric cceca 
 about 12. 
 
306 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Genus Aphredoderus Le Sueur. 
 
 Body elongate; dorsal region elevated; mouth terminal somewhat 
 oblique ; teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer, palatines, and ptery- 
 goids; alimentary canal ending in adult at the throat, the vent more 
 posterior in the young, moving forward from just behind ventral fins. 
 
 Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams). PIRATE PERCH. 
 
 Head 2.3 to 3.2; depth 3.1 to 3.5;, D. in, 9 to 12; A. n, 6; scales 
 49 to 59. 
 
 Body elongate, robust, the dorsal region elevated; head broad, 
 depressed, the profile concave; mouth moderate, oblique, maxillary 
 nearly reaching front of orbit, its length 2.7 to 2.9 in head; lower jaw 
 projecting; snout 2.8 to 3.4 in head; eye 3.5 to 4.3; dorsal fin nearer 
 tip of snout than base of caudal; caudal fin slightly forked; ventral 
 fins jugular in adult; lateral fins developed anteriorly; cheeks and 
 opercles with scales. . 
 
 Color dark olivaceous to nearly black, with bluish tinge, speckled 
 with black; breast and belly yellowish; two blackish bars at base 
 of caudal. 
 
 Length 2 to 4 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits lowland streams and ponds from Wisconsin to 
 New York and Texas. 
 
 Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois. 
 
 Family Centrarchidse. 
 
 THE SUNFISHES. 
 
 Body oval or ovate, compressed; anterior portion of dorsal fin of 
 5 to 13 spines; longest dorsal spine about Y$ length of longest 
 dorsal ray; body with weakly or scarcely ctenoid scales; sides of 
 head with scales; mouth moderate or large; teeth in bands on jaws, 
 vomer, usually also on palatines and tongue; no canine-like teeth; 
 branchiostegals 6 or rarely 7 ; opercle ending in two flat points, or 
 prolonged backward in a black or partially black flap ; gill membranes 
 separate from the isthmus; premaxillaries protractile; pyloric coeca 
 5 to 10 ; air bladder without duct; ventral fins thoracic; caudal fin 
 emarginate or slightly forked; lateral line present. 
 
 a. Anal fin more than half length of dorsal, with 5 to 8 spines. 
 
 b. Dorsal fin with less than 10 spines, usually 5 to 8. Pomoxis, 307 
 
APRIL, IQIO. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 307 
 
 bb. Dorsal fin with more than ic spines, usually n. 
 
 Ambloplites, 309 
 aa. Anal fin less than half the length of the dorsal, with 3 spines. 
 
 c. Body short and deep, its depth about 2/5 its length; dorsal fin 
 not deeply divided; opercle prolonged in a bony process or 
 flap ; its posterior margin rounded. 
 
 d. Mouth large, the maxillary reaching past the pupil; supple- 
 mental maxillary large, its length nearly equal to diameter of 
 eye; tongue and pterygoids with teeth. Ch&nobryttus , 310 
 
 dd. Mouth smaller, the maxillary not reaching past pupil; supple- 
 mental maxillary small or wanting, its length never equal to 
 diameter of eye; no teeth on tongue or pterygoids. 
 
 e. Opercular flap without roundish red spot on its lower posterior 
 angle; pectorals not reaching beyond vertical from first anal 
 spine ; lower pharyngeals narrow, with pointed teeth. 
 
 Lepomis, 311 
 
 ee. Opercular flap with a roundish red spot on its lower posterior 
 angle; pectorals reaching past first anal spine; lower phar- 
 yngeals broad, with bluntly rounded or paved teeth. 
 
 Eupomotis, 314 
 
 cc. Body elongate, its depth about % its length; dorsal fin deeply 
 divided; opercle prolonged, ending in two points; mouth 
 large, maxillary reaching posterior margin of orbit. 
 
 Micropterus, 315 
 
 Genus Pomoxis Rafinesque. 
 CRAPPIES. 
 
 Body much compressed; dorsal region moderately elevated; 
 mouth large, its gape extending to or beyond pupil; maxillary with 
 a well developed supplemental bone; teeth on jaws, vomer, palatines, 
 tongue, and pterygoids; opercle rounded; base of anal fin i to 1.4 in 
 base of dorsal; anal spines 5 to 8; dorsal spines fewer than 10; 
 preopercle and preorbital finely serrate; scales scarcely ctenoid; 
 caudal fin emarginate. 
 
 a. Dorsal spines usually 6 ; a line from posterior end of maxillary 
 at right angles to margin of upper jaw passes in front of dorsal 
 fin. annularis, 308 
 
 aa. Dorsal spines usually 7 or 8; a line from posterior end of 
 maxillary at right angles to margin of upper jaw passes 
 through dorsal fin. sparoides, 308 
 
308 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. CRAPPIE. 
 
 Head 2.8 to 2.9; depth 2.2 to 2.6; D. vi, 15; A. vi, 17 to 19; scales 
 43 to 48. 
 
 Body much compressed, somewhat elongate ; profile concave above 
 eyes; mouth large, maxillary reaching past middle of orbit, its length 2.1 
 to 2.3 in head; eye 4.5 to 5.0; snout 3.2 to 4.2 ; origin of dorsal to tip 
 of snout 1.7 to 1.9 in body; pectorals 1.3 to 1.7 in head; lateral line 
 present. 
 
 Color silvery mottled with dark-green above, becoming silvery 
 below; anal fin with few markings. 
 
 Length 12 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Great Lake Region to New York, 
 Alabama, and Texas. 
 
 Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, 
 Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, 
 Indiana; Lagoon, Buffington, Indiana. 
 
 Pomoxis sparoides (Lace"pede). CALICO BASS. 
 
 Head 2.8 to 3.0; depth 2.1 to 2.4; D. vn or vm, 15; A. vi, 16 to 
 18; scales 38 to 44. 
 
 Body much compressed, moderately elongate; profile concave above 
 eyes; mouth large, maxillary reaching middle of orbit, its length 
 
 FIG. 60. CALICO BASS. 
 
 Pomoxis sparoides (Lac.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 2.1 to 2.5 in head; eye 4.0 to 4.5; snout 3.7 to 4.3; origin of dorsal 
 from tip of snout 1.8 to 2.0 in body; pectorals 1.4 to 2.1 in head; 
 lateral line present. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 309 
 
 Color olivaceous above, silvery or yellowish below; body spotted 
 or mottled with dark greenish or blackish; anal fin much mottled 
 with darker. 
 
 Length 12 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits the coastwise streams from New Jersey to Texas 
 and the Great Lakes. 
 
 Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Calumet Lake, Pullman, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, 
 Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Ambloplites Rafinesque. 
 
 ROCK BASS. 
 
 Body oblong, compressed; dorsal region elevated; mouth large, 
 its gape extending to pupil; maxillary with well developed supple- 
 mental bone; teeth on jaws, vomer, palatines, tongue, and pterygoids; 
 opercle ending in 2 flat points ; preopercle serrate at its angle ; anal 
 spines usually 5 ; branchiostegals 6 rarely 7 ; caudal fin slightly forked. 
 
 Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque). ROCK BASS; GOGGLE-EYE; 
 
 RED-EYE. 
 
 Head 2.6 to 2.8; depth 2.2 to 2.5; D. xi or xn, 10 to 12 ; A. vi, 10 
 or ii ; scales 39 to 43. 
 
 Body oblong, compressed; dorsal region elevated; mouth large, 
 maxillary reaching to middle of pupil, its length 2.1 to 2.4 in head; 
 e Y e 3-5 to 4.0: snout 3.4 to 4.1; pectorals reaching first anal spine, 
 1.8 to 2.0 in head; opercle ending in 2 flat points. 
 
 Color olivaceous with black mottlings and brassy reflections ; each 
 scale on sides with black squarish spot, these forming broken lines 
 along the rows of scales; median fins with brown mottlings and faint 
 edgings of black ; a dark opercular spot . 
 
 Length 8 to 10 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits clear water from Vermont to Manitoba and 
 southward in the Mississippi Valley to Louisiana. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Chicago, Illi- 
 nois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
3io FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Genus Chseiiobryttus Gill. 
 
 WARMOUTH. 
 
 Body compressed, dorsal region elevated; mouth large, its gape 
 extending to or beyond pupil ; maxillary with well developed supple- 
 mental bone; teeth on jaws, vomer, palatines, tongue, and ptery- 
 goids; opercle rounded; the membranous portion narrow; pre- 
 opercle entire ; anal spines 3 ; branchiostegals 6 ; caudal fin slightly 
 forked. 
 
 Chasnobryttus gulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). WARMOUTH. 
 
 Head 2.4 to 2.6; depth 2.0 to 2.6; D. x, 9 or 10; A. in, 8 to 10; 
 scales 39 to 43. 
 
 Body compressed, the dorsal region elevated; mouth large, the 
 maxillary reaching pupil, its length 2.2 to 2.4 in head; eye 4.0 to 5.0; 
 snout 3.3 to 4.4; membranous opercular flap narrow; anal fin short, 
 its base 2 in base of dorsal; longest dorsal spine 3.5 to 4.0 in head; 
 
 
 
 FIG 61. WARMOUTH. 
 
 Chaenobryttus gulosus (C. and V.) (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 cheeks with 6 to 8 rows of scales; pectorals not reaching anal, 1.5 to 
 1.8 in head; caudal fin lunate or very slightly -forked ; lateral line 
 complete. 
 
 Color olivaceous to grayish, mottled and sometimes barred with 
 bluish black; sides with golden reflections; belly and breast yellowish ; 
 three or four dusky streaks radiating from eye; vertical fins mottled 
 with dusky; a black opercular spot. 
 
 Length 6 to 8 inches. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 311 
 
 This species inhabits sluggish waters from the Great Lakes to 
 North Carolina and Texas. 
 
 Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Fox River, Bervvyn, Illinois; 
 Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Lepomis Rafinesque. 
 THE TRUE SUNFISHES. 
 
 Body deep, compressed, the dorsal region elevated; mouth small, 
 its gape not reaching pupil ; maxillary with small supplemental bone 
 or none; teeth on jaws, vomer, and usually on palatines, none on 
 tongue or pterygoids; opercle rounded, ending in a bony or osseo- 
 membranous process or flap ; preopercle entire ; anal spines 3 ; 
 caudal fin emarginate. 
 
 a. Moderately large; supplemental bone present; black spot on 
 opercle on its stiff bony portion. 
 
 b. Maxillary about 2.3 in head; cheeks with wavy bluishgreen 
 lines. . cyanellus, 311 
 
 bb. Maxillary about 2.7 in head; cheeks without wavy bluishgreen 
 lines. euryorus, 312 
 
 aa. Mouth small; supplemental bone very small or wanting; black 
 spot of opercle on its thin flexible portion. 
 
 c. Gill rakers short and weak, their length about 6 in eye; no 
 black spot on base of last rays of dorsal fin. megalotis, 313 
 
 cc. Gill rakers longer, their length about 3 in eye; a black blotch 
 at base of last dorsal rays. incisor, 313 
 
 Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque. GREEN SUNFISH; BLUE-SPOTTED 
 
 SUNFISH. 
 
 Head 2.4 to 3.0; depth 2.1 to 2.5; D. ix or x, 10 to 12; A. in, 
 
 9 or 10 ; scales 45 to 49. 
 
 Body elongate, robust, moderately compressed; mouth moderate, 
 maxillary reaching to about middle of orbit ; supplemental bone well 
 developed; maxillary 2.0 to 2.5 in head; lower jaw the longer; eye 
 3.8 to 5.2 in head; snout 3.3 to 4.0; teeth present on vomer and pal- 
 atines; flexible margin of opercular flap fleshy, broader behind and 
 below than above; spinous dorsal low, its spines 3.0 to 4.2 in head; 
 pectorals short, rounded, 1.5 to 1.7 in head; scales on cheeks in 7 to 
 
 10 rows; caudal fin emarginate; gill rakers long and stiff, the longest 
 2 in eye. 
 
312 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Color olivaceous to greenish; each scale with a green spot, these 
 forming lateral stripes along the rows of scales; sides with 7 or 8 
 dusky bars ; 3 or 4 wavy lines of bluishgreen on cheek below eye ; 2 or 3 
 of them continued backward across opercle; bony portion of opercular 
 flap dark-green or black; the membranous portion coppery to pur- 
 plish ; fins all dusky ; soft dorsal and anal with large black blotch at 
 base of last rays. 
 
 Length from 4 to 7 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits still and sluggish waters from the Great Lake 
 Region to Ohio and the Rio Grande Basin. 
 
 Fox River, Berwyn, Illinois; Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; 
 Butterfield Creek, Elliotts Park, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Liberty- 
 ville, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Thorn Creek, Thornton, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Lake George, Indiana; 
 Lagoon, Buffington, Indiana. 
 
 Lepomis euryorus McKay. MCKAY'S SUNFISH. 
 
 Head 2.6 to 2.9; depth 2.0 to 2.3; D. x, nor 12; A. in, 9 or 10 
 scales 43 to 45. 
 
 Body moderately elongate, compressed; mouth moderate, max- 
 illary reaching front of orbit; supplemental maxillary developed; 
 maxillary 2.6 to 2.9 in head; jaws about equal; eye 3.8 to 4.3 in head; 
 snout 3.7 to 4.2; teeth present on vomer and palatines; opercle 
 produced backward, sharply rounded posteriorly, the fleshy margin 
 wide; gill rakers well developed, the longest 3 in diameter of eye; 
 
 FIG. 62. MCKAY'S SUNFISH. 
 
 Lepomis euryorus McKay. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 313 
 
 dorsal spines low, 2.2 to 2.7 in head; pectorals short, 1.3 to 1.4 in 
 head ; scales on cheeks in 6 to 8 rows. 
 
 Color dusky olive mottled with darker ; fin membranes dusky with 
 darker markings near base; opercular spot black, the margin paler, 
 with some red or coppery color. In general appearance this species 
 resembles the pumpkin-seed, E. gibbosus. 
 
 Length 6 to 8 inches. 
 
 This rare fish ranges from southern Minnesota to northern 
 Indiana. 
 
 Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). LONG-EARED SUNFISH. 
 
 Head 2.8 to 3.3; depth 1.8 to 2.3; D. x, n; A. in, 8 to 10; 
 scales 37 to 39. 
 
 Body short and deep, compressed; dorsal region much elevated; 
 mouth rather small ; maxillary reaching orbit ; no supplemental bone ; 
 maxillary 2.4 to 2.7 in head; jaws equal; no teeth on palatines; eye 
 3.0 to 4.0 in head; snout 2.5 to 3.2; opercular flap short in young, 
 to very long in adults; usually broadened behind, with or without 
 pale margin; gill rakers short, longest about 6 in diameter of eye; 
 pectoral fins short, i.o to 1.2 in head; scales on cheeks in about 5 
 rows. 
 
 Color light to dark-olive; sides irregularly spotted with orange; 
 cheeks with wavy streaks, opercular flap entirely black or with nar- 
 row pale margin. 
 
 Length 3% to 4 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Minnesota to South Carolina and the Rio 
 Grande. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Lake George, Indiana. 
 
 Lepomis incisor (Cuvier& Valenciennes). BLUEGILL; BLUE SUNFISH. 
 
 Head 2.9 to 3.4; depth 1.9 to 2.2; D. x. 10 to 12; A. in, 10 to 
 12; scales 38 to 48. 
 
 Body short, compressed, dorsal region elevated; mouth small, 
 maxillary scarcely reaching orbit; no developed supplemental bone; 
 maxillary 2.9 to 3.3 in head; jaws equal; eye 2.9 to 3.9 in head; snout 
 3.0 to 3.5; no teeth on palatines; opercle prolonged backward in 
 adults; its membranous margin narrow or wanting; spinous dorsal 
 high, the longest spine 1.3 to 2.4 in head; pectorals long, pointed, 
 about equal to length of head ; scales on cheeks in 5 rows. 
 
 Color olivaceous above to yellowish below; sides with about 6 
 vertical bars, becoming inconspicuous in adults ; opercular flap black, 
 
314 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 FIG. 63. BLUEGILL; BLUE SUNFISH. 
 
 Lepomis incisor (C. and V.) (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 without pale margin; dorsal with a black blotch on base of its last 
 rays. 
 
 Length 5 to 8 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Great Lake Region to Florida and Mexico. 
 
 Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Bull Creek, Beach, Illinois; Lagoon, 
 Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; 
 Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Chicago River, Edgebrook, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; 
 Lake George, Indiana; Lagoon, Bufnngton, Indiana; Calumet River, 
 Clark, Indiana; Deep River, Liverpool, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Eupomotis Gill and Jordan. 
 PUMPKIN-SEED SUNFISH. 
 
 Body short, compressed; mouth small; no supplemental maxil- 
 lary; lower pharyngeals deep and broad, the teeth bluntly rounded 
 or paved; gill rakers short; fins long; a red roundish spot on lower 
 posterior angle of opercle. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 315 
 
 Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus). PUMPKIN-SEED; RED-EARED SUN- 
 FISH. 
 
 Head 2.8 to 3.2; depth 2.0 to 2.5; D. x, n or 12; A. in, 10 or 
 ii ; scales 35 to 40. 
 
 Body short, compressed, the dorsal region elevated; mouth small, 
 maxillary reaching front of orbit, its length 2.6 to 3.3 in head; no 
 supplemental bone; eye 3.5 to 4.2 in head; about equal to length of 
 the snout; opercle with bony portion distinct from the broad, paler, 
 fleshy portion; gill rakers short and soft; pectorals rather long, i.o 
 to i.i in head; 4 or 5 rows of scales on cheeks. 
 
 Color olivaceous to greenish; sides with yellowish or copper-col- 
 ored roundish blotches; cheeks and opercles crossed by 4 or 5 wavy 
 lines; opercular flap black with a roundish red or orange spot on 
 lower posterior angle; dorsal fin irregularly barred with brownish 
 to orange blotches. 
 
 Length 5 to 8 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Great Lake Region to the Atlantic Coast 
 streams and northern Mississippi Valley. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Des 
 Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Calumet Lake, Pullman, Illinois; 
 Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake George, Indiana; Lake Michigan 
 and Calumet River, Millers, Indiana; Lagoon, Buffington, Indiana; 
 Lake Michigan and Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, 
 Indiana. 
 
 Genus Micropterus Lacepede. 
 BLACK BASS. 
 
 Body elongate, the dorsal region not much developed; mouth very 
 large; maxillary with well developed supplemental maxillary; pre- 
 opercle entire; opercle emarginate behind, ending in 2 flat points; 
 teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; tongue usually without teeth; 
 spinous and soft dorsals divided by a deep notch ; anal spines 3. 
 
 a. Mouth moderate, the maxillary scarcely reaching posterior 
 
 margin of orbit; 10 to 12 rows of scales between lateral line 
 
 and dorsal fin. dolomieu, 316 
 
 aa. Mouth larger, the maxillary reaching past posterior margin of 
 
 orbit; 8 to 9 rows of scales between lateral line and dorsal fin. 
 
 salmoides, 316 
 
316 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede. SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK BASS. 
 
 Head 2.9 to 3.7; depth 2.9 to 3.1; D. x, 13 to 15; A. in, 10 to 
 12; scales 66 to 78. 
 
 Body elongate, moderately compressed, mouth large, the max- 
 illary not reaching posterior margin of orbit; its length 2.1 to 2.5; 
 supplemental maxillary developed; eye 5.4 to 6.9 in head; snout 3.0 
 to 3-3'. gill rakers long, spinous, dorsal low, its last spines much 
 shorter than the longest ones; pectorals short, 1.9 to 2.1 in head; lat- 
 eral line complete; scales on cheeks in 17 rows; 10 to 12 rows of scales 
 between dorsal fin and lateral line. 
 
 Color green to nearly black, with faint vermiculations above lat- 
 eral line and indistinct dark bars below it. 
 
 Length 12 to 15 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits the clear streams and colder lakes from the 
 Great Lake Region to Vermont, South Carolina, and Arkansas. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). LARGE-MOUTHED BLACK BASS. 
 
 Head 2.8 to 2.9; depth 2.9 to 3.2; D. x, 12 to 13; A. in, 10 to 
 12; scales 62 to 68. 
 
 Body elongate, not much compressed ; dorsal region little elevated ; 
 mouth large, the maxillary reaching past posterior margin of orbit, 
 its length 1.9 to 2.1 in head; supplemental bone well developed; eye 
 5.8 to 7.6 in head; snout 3.1 to 3.9; gill rakers long; spinous dorsal 
 low, its last rays much shorter than longest ones; pectorals short 
 2.0 to 2.4 in head; lateral line complete; scales on cheeks in 9 or ib 
 rows; 8 to 9 rows of scales between dorsal fin and lateral line. 
 
 Color dark-green, obscurely mottled with dark blotches; a dark 
 lateral band, most conspicuous in smaller individuals. 
 
 FIG. 64. LARGE-MOUTHED BLACK BASS. 
 
 Micropterus salmoides (Lac.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 317 
 
 Length 15 to 18 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits the larger streams and lakes from the Great 
 Lake Region to Florida and northeastern Mexico. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; Des 
 Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lagoon, 
 Buffington, Indiana; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Deep River, Liverpool, 
 Indiana. 
 
 Family Percidse. 
 THE PERCHES AND DARTERS. 
 
 Body more or less elongate, terete or compressed, covered more or 
 less completely with rather small ctenoid scales; mouth large or small, 
 terminal or inferior; teeth usually villiform in bands on jaws, occa- 
 sionally with few canine-like teeth; vomer and palatines usually 
 with teeth; pseudo-branchiae small, glandular or concealed; opercle 
 usually ending in a single flat spine; preopercle entire or serrate; 
 dorsal fins 2, the first of 6 to 15 spines; gill rakers slender, toothed; 
 gill membranes separate or joined, not connected with the isthmus; 
 lower pharyngeals separate, with sharp teeth; pyloric caeca few; anal 
 papillae usually more or less developed; air bladder small and ad- 
 herent, often wanting. 
 
 a. Preopercle distinctly serrate below and behind angle; pseudo- 
 branchiae well developed; branchiostegals 7; no anal papillae, 
 fishes of large size. 
 
 b. Canine teeth on jaws and palatines; body subterte. 
 
 Stizostedion, 318 
 
 bb. No canine teeth present ; body compressed. Perca, 320 
 
 aa. Preopercle entire or nearly so ; pseudo branchiae small or want- 
 ing; anal papillae usually present; fishes less than 6 to 9 inches 
 in length. 
 
 c. Cranium broad between the eyes; interorbital space 4.0 to 4.7 
 in head; snout long, pig-like, and projecting beyond the 
 inferior mouth ; gill membranes separate. Percina, 320 
 
 cc. Cranium narrow between the eyes; interorbital space nar- 
 rower 5 to 9 in head; snout pointed or blunt, projecting very 
 little or none beyond the terminal or nearly terminal mouth. 
 
 d. Median line of belly with enlarged scales or plates, these falling 
 off leaving a naked strip; separation of ventrals equal to or 
 greater than their width at base. 
 
 e. Premaxillaries not protractile. H adropterus , 321 
 
318 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 ee. Premaxillaries protractile. Cottogaster, 322 
 
 dd. Median line of belly with ordinary scales, or the entire ventral 
 
 surface naked, never with large scales or plates; separation of 
 
 ventrals less than their width at base. 
 
 f. Maxillary adnate to the preorbital; premaxillary protractile 
 downward; mouth small, overhung slightly by the blunt snout. 
 
 Diplesion, 323 
 ff. Maxillary free from the preorbital. 
 
 g. Premaxillaries protractile. 
 
 h. Body covered with scales; snout blunt or bluntish. 
 
 Boleosoma, 324 
 
 hh. Dorsal and ventral regions with few or no scales; snout pointed. 
 
 Ammocrypta, 326 
 gg. Premaxillaries not protractile, 
 i. Lateral line more or less developed; scales small, more than 40 
 
 in lateral series. 
 
 j. Lateral line straight. Etheostoma, 327 
 
 jj. Lateral line arched anteriorly. Boleichthys, 330 
 
 ii. Lateral line entirely wanting; scales larger, less than 40 in 
 
 lateral series. Microperca, 331 
 
 Genus Stizostedioii Rafmesque. 
 PIKE-PERCHES. 
 
 Body elongate, fusiform; back broad; head large with pointed 
 snout; preopercle with antrorse serrae; opercle with one or more 
 spines; teeth on jaws and on palatines in villiform bands, a few en- 
 larged and canine-like; pseudobranchiae well developed; pyloric 
 coeca 3 to 8 ; caudal fin lunate. 
 
 a. Spinous dorsal with 2 or 3 rows of large black spots; pyloric 
 cceca 5 to 8, unequal, the longest shorter than the stomach. 
 
 canadense, 318 
 
 aa. Spinous dorsal with a single large black spot on last two 
 membranes; pyloric cceca 3, subequal and as long as stomach. 
 
 vitreum, 319 
 
 Stizostedion canadense. (Smith) SAUCER; SAND PIKE; GRAY PIKE. 
 
 Head 3.4 to 3.6; depth 5.2 to 5.5; D. x to xm 17 to 19; A. n, 
 ii or 12; scales 85 to 91. 
 
 Body elongate, slightly compressed; head large, depressed; in- 
 terorbital space flat; mouth large, the maxillary reaching past pupil; 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 319 
 
 snout long, depressed, 3.2 to 3.7 in head; diameter of eye 4.6 to 5.1 ; 
 upper jaw the longer; spinous and soft dorsals separate; cheeks fully 
 scaled; lateral line usually complete; pyloric coeca 5 to 8; shorter 
 than stomach. 
 
 Color olive-gray mottled with darker; spinous dorsal with 2 or 3 
 rows of round black spots; no large black blotch on posterior mem- 
 branes; soft dorsal with 4 or 5 irregular rows of rather indistinct 
 dusky blotches; a large black blotch at base of pectorals; caudal 
 yellowish, barred with dusky. 
 
 Length i to iK f ee t- 
 
 This fish inhabits the larger streams and lakes from the Assiniboin 
 River, through the Great Lake Region to Tennessee and Arkansas. 
 
 Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill). WALL-EYED PIKE; JACK SALMON; 
 
 PIKE. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 3.5; depth 4.3 to 5.2; D. xn or xiv 19 to 22; A. n, 
 12 to 14; scales 80 to 89. 
 
 Body slender, slightly compressed; head pointed, profile long 
 and straight; interorbital space flat; mouth large, terminal, the max- 
 illary reaching past pupil; snout 3.3 to 3.8 in head; diameter of eye 
 4.6 to 6.0; upper jaw slightly the longer; spinous and soft dorsals 
 separated; cheeks usually sparsely scaled; lateral line usually com- 
 plete; pyloric cceca 3, about as long as stomach. 
 
 FIG. 65. WALL-EYED PIKE; JACK SALMON. 
 
 Stizostedion vitreum (Mitch.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color olive-buff to yellowish, everywhere mottled with black; 
 sides with 5 large irregularly-shaped cross-blotches with smaller 
 blotches between; spinous dorsal with a narrow black margin and 
 with a dark spot on its last 2 membranes; soft dorsal indistinctly 
 barred. 
 
 Length 3 feet. 
 
 This species ranges from Minnesota to Hudson Bay, Maryland, 
 and Oklahoma. 
 
320 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Genus Perca (Artedi). Linnaeus. 
 
 YELLOW PERCH. 
 
 Body elongate, considerably compressed; head large; mouth 
 moderate; premaxillary protractile; preopercle serrate; opercle 
 with a single spine; teeth in villiform bands on jaws; vonier and 
 palatines; no canines; pseudobranchiae small; pyloric coeca 3 to 7. 
 
 Perca flavescens (Mitchill). YELLOW PERCH. 
 
 Head 3.0 to 3.5; depth 3.3 to 3.8; D. xn to xiv n or in, 12 or 
 13; A. n, 7 or 8; scales 57 to 62. 
 
 Body moderately elongate, compressed; head large, pointed; 
 interorbital space nearly flat; mouth large, the maxillary reaching 
 middle of orbit; snout pointed 3.4 to 3.7 in head; diameter of eye 
 3.6 to 4.8; preopercle strongly serrate; opercle ending in several 
 points; spinous and soft dorsal separate; cheeks scaled in about 8 
 to 10 rows; gill rakers x+i5; pyloric coeca 3; lateral line complete 
 or nearly so. 
 
 Color brassy green to golden yellow; sides with 7 dark or dusky 
 bars; spinous dorsal gray, usually with a black spot on last 2 mem- 
 branes; soft dorsal and caudal pale-green. 
 
 Length i foot. 
 
 This fish ranges from North Dakota to Nova Scotia, New York, 
 and Iowa. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; 
 Calumet Lake, Pullman, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illi- 
 nois; Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake Michigan and Lagoons, 
 Millers, Indiana; Lagoon, Buffington, Indiana; Lake Michigan and 
 Lagoons, Pine, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark, Indiana; Lake Mich- 
 igan and Lagoons, Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Perciiia Haldeman. 
 
 Body elongate, scarcely compressed; premaxillary not protrac- 
 tile ; teeth on vomer and palatines ; mouth small and inferior ; pyloric 
 cceca 6; ventral surface with a row of enlarged scale-like caducous 
 plates. 
 
 Percina caprodes (Rafinesque). LOG-PERCH. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.8; depth 5.4 to 7.0; D. xn-i5; A. n, roor n; scales 
 83 to 93. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 321 
 
 Body elongate, cylindrical; head long and pointed; interorbital 
 area flat or slightly concave; mouth small, overhung by the pig-like 
 snout ; maxillary scarcely reaching to posterior nostril ; cleft of mouth 
 3.4 to 4.0 in head; snout long, conical, 2.8 to 3.3 in head; eye high on 
 head, 3.6 to 4.2 in head; spinous and soft dorsals very little separated; 
 
 FIG. 66. LOG PERCH. 
 
 Percina caprodes (Raf.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 separation of ventrals about equal to their width at base ; cheeks and 
 opercles covered with scales; nape usually fully scaled; breast naked. 
 
 Color olive-buff to yellowish; sides of adults with 30 to 40 dark 
 bars, alternate ones are half bars, these are usually absent in young; 
 a small black caudal spot; dorsal and caudal fins barred, other fins 
 plain. 
 
 Length 4 to 6 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Great Lake Drainage to Alabama and 
 Texas. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Wolf Lake, Roby, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana; Lake 
 Michigan, Edgemoor, Indiana. 
 
 Genus Hadropterus Agassiz. 
 BLACK-SIDED DARTERS. 
 
 Body rather elongate, slightly compressed; premaxillary not pro- 
 tractile; teeth on vomer and usually on palatines; mouth rather 
 large, terminal; pyloric cceca 2 to 4; ventral surface with a row of 
 enlarged scales, caducous in some species, persistent in others; gill 
 membranes united to the isthmus. 
 
 Hadropterus aspro (Cope and Jordan). BLACK-SIDED DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.8 to 4.0; depth 5.4 to 6.8; D. xm to xv n to 14; A. n, 
 8 to ii ; scales 50 to 56. 
 
322 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Body elongate, slightly compressed; head pointed; interorbital 
 space flat, narrow; mouth large, terminal, the maxillary reaching 
 past front of orbit; cleft of mouth 3.0 to 3.4 in head; snout bluntly 
 pointed, 3.6 to 4.1 in head; eye 3.4 to 4.0; spinous and soft dorsals 
 usually separate; separation of ventrals about equal to their width 
 at base; gill membranes united to the isthmus; cheeks and opercles 
 
 FIG. 67. BLACK-SIDED DARTER. 
 
 Hadropterus aspro (Cope and Jordan). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 covered with small scales; nape naked or with embedded scales; 
 breast naked; middle line of ventral surface with enlarged caducous 
 plates. 
 
 Color olivaceous; back with about 8 dark quadrate spots; 7 or 
 8 large dark blotches along side more or less confluent into a lateral 
 band; head dark-olive with a dark streak before eye and one below; 
 it ; spinous dorsal in males crossed by a dark band ; pectorals faintly" 
 barred. 
 
 Length 3 to 4 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Manitoba and the Great Lake Region to 
 Arkansas. 
 
 Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; 
 Flossmore, Illinois; Thorn Creek, Thornton, Illinois; Salt Creek, 
 Lyons, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Cottogaster Putnam. 
 
 Body rather robust, little compressed; premaxillary protractile, 
 or with a narrow frenum; teeth on vomer; mouth small, subter- 
 minal; pyloric cceca 3, ventral surface naked or with caducous plates. 
 
 Cottogaster shumardi (Girard). SHUMARD'S DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.7 to 4.0; depth 5.2 to 6.9; D. ix to xi 13 to 15; A. n, 
 10 to 12; scales 50 to 56. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; head large, snout blunt; mouth 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 323 
 
 moderate, the maxillary reaching front of orbit; cleft of mouth 2.9 
 to 3.2 in head; snout bluntish, 2.9 to 3.7; eye 3.2 to 3.5; spinous and 
 soft dorsals very little separate at base; separation of ventrals 
 nearly equal to their width at base ; gill membranes free from isthmus ; 
 cheek opercles and nape scaled; breast naked ; ventral surface naked. 
 
 FIG. 68. SHUMARD'S DARTER 
 
 Cottagaster shumardi (Girard). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color brownish olive, blotched and mottled with darker; sides 
 with 1 5 to 1 8 dark blotches ; a faint dark band in front of eye and one 
 below it ; a black blotch on front and one on back of spinous dorsal ; 
 soft dorsal and caudal barred. 
 
 Length 2>^ to 3 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from the Great Lakes through the Mississippi 
 Valley to Arkansas. 
 
 Genus Diplesion Rafinesque. 
 
 Body rather elongate, little compressed; mouth small, its gape 
 nearly horizontal; premaxillaries protractile downwards; maxillary 
 joined for most of its length to the skin of the preorbital; no teeth 
 on vomer or palatines ; ventral surface covered with ordinary scales ; 
 gill membranes broadly connected across the isthmus; pyloric 
 caeca 4. 
 
 Diplesion blennioides Rafinesque. GREEN-SIDED DARTER. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.6; depth 5.3 to 6.3; D. xm to xiv 13 to 14; A. n, 
 8 or 9; scales 57 to 64. 
 
 Body rather elongate, slightly compressed ; head short with blunt 
 snout; interorbital space flat, narrow; mouth small, its gape hori- 
 zontal, the maxillary reaching front of orbit; cleft of mouth 3.1 to 
 4.0 in head; snout blunt, slightly overhanging the small mouth, 3.1 
 to 3.7 in head; eye 3.1 to 3.6; spinous and soft dorsals joined or 
 
324 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 slightly separate; separation of ventrals less than their width at 
 base; gill membranes connected to the isthmus; cheeks naked or 
 with few more or less embedded scales; opercles and nape scaled; 
 breast naked; ventral surface with ordinary scales; lateral line 
 nearly straight, completed or nearly so. 
 
 FIG. 69. GREEN-SIDED DARTER. 
 
 Diplesion blennioides Raf. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 Color olive-green, sides with orange dots and with 5 to 8 double 
 dark-green vertical bars, each pair forming a V-shaped figure, these 
 sometimes united forming a wavy lateral band ; spinous dorsal orange 
 brown at base, blue above; soft dorsal and anal fins blue-green with 
 some reddish; caudal greenish, faintly barred. 
 
 Length 3 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from South Dakota to Lake Ontario, Alabama, 
 and Missouri. 
 
 Genus Boleosoma DeKay. 
 JOHNNY DARTERS. 
 
 Body elongate, subcylindrical ; mouth small, its gape horizontal; 
 premaxillaries protractile; teeth on vomer; ventral surface covered 
 with ordinary scales; gill membranes narrowly connected; pyloric 
 caeca 3 to 6. 
 
 a. Lateral line complete or nearly so; cheeks and breast usually 
 
 without scales; pyloric cceca 6. nigrum, 324 
 
 aa. Lateral line absent on posterior half of body; cheeks and 
 
 breast usually closely scaled; pyloric coeca 3. camurum, 325 
 
 Boleosoma nigrum (Rafinesque). JOHNNY DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 4.2; depth 4.7 to 6.9; D. vm to x 10 to 12; A. i, 
 6 to 9; scales 45 to 52. 
 
 Body elongate, slender, subfusiform; head short with decurved 
 snout; interorbital space narrow, concave; mouth small, its gape 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 325 
 
 horizontal, maxillary reaching slightly past front of orbit; cleft of 
 mouth 2.9 to 3.7 in head; snout blunt, slightly overhanging the mouth, 
 3.3 to 4.2 in head; eye 3.2 to 4.0 in head; spinous and soft dorsals 
 slightly joined; separation of ventrals usually a little less than their 
 width at base; gill membranes narrowly connected; cheeks naked 
 or with trace of scales on upper portion ; breast usually naked ; nape 
 scaled or not; lateral line complete or nearly so. 
 
 Color pale-olive or straw color; back much tessellated with brown; 
 sides with numerous W-shaped or quadrate blotches; head speckled 
 above, mostly black in males; fins barred. 
 
 Length 2> inches. 
 
 This species ranges from the Assiniboin to Colorado and eastward. 
 
 Fox Lake, Illinois; Fox River, McHenry, Illinois; Pettibone 
 Creek, North Chicago, Illinois; Ravine, Glencoe, Illinois; Chicago 
 River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Thorn Creek, 
 Thornton, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Alpine, Illinois; Hickory Creek, 
 Marley, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Wolf Lake, 
 Roby, Indiana; Lake George, Indiana. 
 
 Boleosoma camurum Forbes. BLUNT-HEADED DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.9 to 4.3; depth 6.5 to 7.2; D. vin to x 10 or n' A. i, 7 
 or 8; scales 52 to 60. 
 
 Body elongate, slender, somewhat compressed; head short, nar- 
 row, snout decurved; interorbital flat; mouth small, its gape hori- 
 zontal ; maxillary reaching to front of pupil ; cleft of mouth 3.1 to 
 
 FIG. 70. BLUNT-HEADED DARTER. 
 
 Boleosoma camurum Forbes. (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 3.8 in head; snout blunt, 3.8 to 4.5 in head; eye 3.3 to 4.0; spinous and 
 soft dorsals separated by a distance about equal to diameter of the eye; 
 separation of ventrals less than their width at base ; gill membranes 
 not broadly connected; cheek opercles and breast fully scaled; nape 
 with a median naked strip; ventral surface covered with ordinary 
 scales; lateral line developed on about half the scales; pyloric caeca 3. 
 Color much as in the preceding, being less finely tessellated and 
 
326 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 the W-shaped blotches less distinct, dorsals and caudal fins faintly 
 barred. 
 
 Reaching a length of not more than i^ inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Iowa to Alabama and Texas. 
 
 Genus Ammocrypta Jordan. 
 
 Body slender, elongate, fusiform; mouth rather wide, its gape 
 horizontal; premaxillaries protractile; teeth on vomer; ventral sur- 
 face without scales; gill membranes somewhat connected; pyloric 
 caeca 4. 
 
 Ammocrypta pellucida (Baird). SAND DARTER. 
 
 Head 4.1 to 4.4; depth 8.2 to 10.1; D. ix to xi 9 to n; A. i, 8 
 or 9; scales 67 to 78. 
 
 Body elongate, very slender; head with slightly decurved snout; 
 interorbital space narrow, concave; mouth rather large, its gape 
 horizontal, the cleft 3.1 to 4.4 in head; maxillary reaching slightly 
 
 FIG. 71. SAND DARTER. 
 
 Ammocyipta pellucida (Baird). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 past front of orbit; snout slightly decurved, pointed, 3.1 to 3.8 in 
 head; eye 3.6 to 4.3; spinous and soft dorsals widely separated; 
 separation of ventrals less than their width at base; gill membranes 
 somewhat connected ; cheeks and opercles scaled ; nape scaled or not; 
 throat, breast, and belly entirely naked; all of the scales more or less 
 embedded and with slightly ctenoid edges, those on body confined 
 to a strip or band of varying width on sides; lateral line usually 
 complete. 
 
 Color white, translucent; scales with fine black dots; a series of 
 squarish olive or bluish blotches along the back, and another along 
 each side. 
 
 Length 2 V 2 " inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Minnesota to Ohio and Texas. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 327 
 
 Genus Etlieostoma Rafinesque. 
 
 Body robust or elongate, considerably compressed; mouth large 
 or small, terminal or subinferior; premaxillaries not protractile; 
 teeth usually on vomer and palatines; ventral surface covered with 
 ordinary scales; gill membranes connected or not; pyloric caeca 3 
 or 4. 
 
 a. Lateral line usually complete, pores occasionally lacking on 2 
 to 6 scales; gill membranes broadly connected, zonale, 327 
 
 aa. Lateral line incomplete, pores usually lacking on 10 or more 
 scales. 
 
 b. Gill membranes scarcely connected; lower jaw moderate, not 
 projecting. 
 
 c. Cheeks and opercles with scales. 
 
 d. Body slender, little compressed, its depth 5.4 to 6.8; soft 
 dorsal with 9 to 1 1 rays ; scales 5 5 to 60 in lateral series ; sides 
 without crossbars. iawoe, 328 
 
 dd. Body compressed, its depth 4.8 to 5.4; soft dorsal with 12 to 
 13 rays; scales 49 to 57 in lateral series; sides with brown 
 crossbars. Jessies, 328 
 
 cc. Cheeks naked, opercles with scales; body compressed, its 
 depth 4.7 to 5.0; soft dorsal with 12 to 14 rays; scales 44 to 51 
 in lateral series; sides with crossbars, these red and blue in 
 spring males. cceruleum, 329 
 
 bb. Gill membranes broadly connected; lower jaw strongly pro- 
 jecting, flabellare, 330 
 
 Etheostoma zonale (Cope). BANDED DARTER. 
 
 Head 4.0 to 4.9; depth 4.7 to 6.0; D. x or xi 10 to 12; A. n, 7 
 or 8; scales 46 to 53. 
 
 Body robust, little compressed; head short with decurved snout; 
 interorbital space convex; mouth small, its gape horizontal, its cleft 
 
 FIG. 72. BANDED DARTER. 
 
 Etheostoma zonale (Cope). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
328 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 3.4 to 4.8 in head; maxillary scarcely reaching past front of orbit; 
 snout blunt 3.2 to 4.0 in head; eye 2.9 to 3.7 in head; spinous and 
 soft dorsals usually well separated at base ; separation of ventrals less 
 than y>, their width at base; cheeks, opercles, and nape fully scaled; 
 breast usually scaled; lateral line usually complete. 
 
 Color greenish olive, dorsal surface with 6 dark bars, short and 
 somewhat broken, these alternating with blotches of rusty red (in 
 life); belly greenish yellow to almost white; upper half of spinous 
 dorsal except tip, orange; soft dorsal and caudal fins barred; other 
 fins nearly white. 
 
 Seldom reaching a length of 2 inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Iowa to Ohio and Louisiana. 
 
 Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Etheostoma iowae Jordan & Meek. 
 
 Head 3.7 to 4.0; depth 5.4 to 6.8; D. vin to xi 9 ton; A. n, 6 
 to 8; scales 55 to 60. 
 
 Body slender, little compressed; head rather large with bluntish 
 snout; interorbital space narrow, convex; mouth small, nearly hor- 
 izontal, its cleft 3.6 to 4.0 in head; lower jaw the shorter; maxillary 
 reaching to front of orbit; eye 3.3 to 4.4 in head; spinous, and soft 
 dorsal separated by a space greater than diameter of the eye; sepa- 
 ration of ventrals less than half their width at base; gill membranes 
 scarcely connected; cheeks, opercles, and nape fully scaled; breast 
 naked; belly covered with ordinary scales; lateral line incomplete, 
 lacking on about 25 scales. 
 
 Color greenish, finely blotched with darker; back with 9 to n 
 dark-brown quadrate spots; sides with n or 12 narrow dark bars, 
 those on posterior half of body most conspicuous and meeting those 
 on opposite side on belly; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal with bars; 
 spinous dorsal with row of dark spots near base and barred on upper 
 half. 
 
 Length 2 inches. 
 
 This species ranges from the Assiniboin to Indiana. 
 
 Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois. 
 
 Etheostoma jessias (Jordan & Brayton). 
 
 Head 3.7 to 4.2; depth 4.8 to 5.4; D. x to xn 12 or 13; A. n. 
 7 or 8; scales 49 to 57. 
 
 Body robust, compressed; head large, tapering above and below 
 to a bluntly pointed tip; interorbital space narrow, convex; mouth 
 rather large, terminal, oblique; margin of upper lip on level with the 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 329 
 
 pupil; cleft of mouth 2.8 to 3.8 in head; maxillary reaching past front 
 of orbit; snout pointed, 3.5 to 4.3 in head; eye 3.3 to 4.0; spinous 
 and soft dorsal scarcely separate; separation of ventrals more than 
 y$ their width at base; gill membranes narrowly connected; cheeks, 
 opercles, and nape closely scaled; breast naked; belly covered with 
 ordinary scales; lateral line with pores lacking on 3 to 15 scales. 
 
 Color brownish olive; back with 5 or 6 dark quadrate blotches; 
 sides with 8 or 9 dark bars on sides, those before anal fin obscure; 
 spinous dorsal tipped (in life) with pale blue or white, below which is 
 a row of orange red spots; base of fins blue; soft dorsal irregularly 
 spotted with orange; anal pale. 
 
 Length ordinarily a little less than 2 inches, occasionally reaching 
 a length of 2^ inches. 
 
 This species ranges from Iowa to Indiana and Texas. 
 
 Etheostoma cceruleum Storer. RAINBOW DARTER; SOLDIER-FISH. 
 
 Head 3.2 to 4.0; depth 4.5 to 5.2; D. x or xi 12 to 14; A. n, 
 7 or 8; scales 44 to 51. 
 
 Body robust, compressed; head large, tapering above and below 
 to a bluntly pointed snout; interorbital space flat; mouth moderate, 
 terminal, somewhat oblique, the jaws about equal; cleft of mouth 
 3.0 to 3. 5; maxillary reaching front of orbit; snout bluntly pointed, 
 3.2 to 4.1 in head; eye 5.8 to 7.2 in head; spinous and soft dorsals 
 scarcely separate, or slightly connected; separation of ventrals 
 
 FIG. 73. RAINBOW DARTER; SOLDIER-FISH. 
 
 Etheostoma cceruleum Storer. (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 usually about ^3 their width at base ; cheeks naked; opercles scaled; 
 nape scaled posteriorly; breast naked; belly covered with ordinary 
 scales; lateral line incomplete, usually absent on 15 to 20 scales. 
 
 Color dark-olive, overlaid with dusky to bluish bars and blotches; 
 back with 7 or 8 rather obscure quadrate blotches; sides with n to 
 12 dark bars, these most prominent on posterior third of body; in 
 
330 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 life these bars in males, dark indigo-blue, the inter-spaces blood- 
 orange; spinous dorsal crossed at its middle by a row of orange spots 
 or an orange band, above and below this, pale to deep indigo-blue 
 bands, at base of fin a narrower band of orange with orange red spots ; 
 female duller in color. 
 
 Length 2 inches. 
 
 This fish is a resident of the Ohio and Upper Mississippi Valleys. 
 
 Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Etheostoma flabellare Rafmesque. FAN-TAILED DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.2; depth 4.6 to 4.8; D. vn or vin 12 to 14; A. 11, 
 7 or 8; scales 51 to 63. 
 
 Body robust, compressed; head long, slender, somewhat depressed 
 with slight angle at nape; interorbital space flat; mouth rather 
 large, terminal, oblique, the lower jaw the longer; cleft of mouth 
 2.9 to 3.3 in head; margin of upper lip on level with upper third of 
 pupil ; maxillary reaching past front of orbit ; gill membranes broadly 
 connected; spinous and soft dorsals slightly joined at base; separa- 
 tion of ventrals about half their width at base; cheeks and opercles 
 usually naked ; nape naked or with deeply embedded scales ; breast 
 naked; belly covered with ordinary scales; lateral line incomplete, 
 absent on 15 to 25 scales. 
 
 Color rather dark/with small dark spots and faint crossbars ; each 
 scale with a dark spot, forming lines along the rows of scales; a dark 
 streak across opercles, and through eye to end of snout; males with 
 10 to 12 crossbars, these faint in the females; soft dorsal, caudal, and 
 anal fins finely barred; spinous dorsal reddish, the spines in breeding 
 males with fleshy knobs. 
 
 Length 2 to 2% inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Iowa to New York and South Carolina. 
 
 Des Plaines River, Berwyn, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 
 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 
 
 Genus Boleichthys Girard. 
 
 Body elongate, little compressed; mouth small, its gape nearly 
 horizontal; premaxillaries not protractile; ventral surface with 
 ordinary scales; gill membranes scarcely connected; lateral line 
 incomplete, slightly curved upward anteriorly. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 331 
 
 Boleichthys fusiformis (Girard). SPINDLE-SHAPED DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.5 to 4.1; depth 5.8 to 7.1; D. ix or x 10 to 12; A. n, 
 6 or 7; scales 48 to 54. 
 
 Body elongate, slightly compressed; head with bluntly pointed 
 snout; interorbital space narrow, convex; mouth small, horizontal, 
 its cleft 3.1 to 3.8 in head; lower jaw the shorter; maxillary reaching 
 past front of eye; snout blunt, 4.3 to 5.2 in head; margin of upper 
 lip on level with lower margin of eye; eye 3.5 to 4.0 in head; gill 
 membranes scarcely connected; spinous and soft dorsals usually 
 separated by a distance nearly equal to diameter of eye; separation 
 of ventrals about half their width at base; cheeks and opercles fully 
 
 FIG. 74. SPINDLE-SHAPED DARTER. 
 
 Boleichthys fusiformis (Girard). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 scaled; nape usually with scales; breast naked or nearly so; belly 
 covered with ordinary scales; lateral line incomplete, absent on 25 
 or 35 scales. 
 
 Color olivaceous, much dotted and blotched with brown, the dark 
 color in more or less definite W and X-shaped markings, or in zigzag 
 streaks; spinous dorsal faintly dusky near base ; soft dorsal and caudal 
 faintly barred; males usually darker, with 9 or 10 transverse* bars in 
 breeding season, and with basal third of membrane of spinous dorsal 
 jet-black, the fins edged with dusky. 
 
 Length 2 to -2% inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Minnesota to Massachusetts and the Rio 
 Grande. 
 
 Genus Microperca Putnam. 
 THE LEAST DARTERS. 
 
 Body robust, slightly compressed; mouth small, its cleft nearly 
 horizontal, premaxillaries not protractile; ventral surface covered 
 with ordinary scales; gill membranes scarcely connected. 
 
332 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Microperca punctulata Putnam. LEAST DARTER. 
 
 Head 3.6 to 4.0; depth 4.6 to 5.2; D. vi-g; A. n, 5 or 6; scales 
 
 33 to 3 6 - 
 
 Body robust, somewhat compressed; head bluntly rounded, in- 
 terorbital space narrow, convex; mouth subterminal, its cleft slightly 
 oblique, 3.5 to 4.0 in head ;, maxillary reaching to middle of eye; 
 snout bluntish, 4.8 to 5.5 in head; eye 3.7 to 4.1; gill membranes 
 scarcely connected; spinous and soft dorsals separated by a space 
 
 FIG. 75. LEAST DARTER. 
 
 Microperca punctulata Putnam. (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 about equal to pupil ; separation of ventrals less than half width of 
 their base; cheeks, breast, and nape naked; opercles with few scales; 
 lateral line absent. 
 
 Color olivaceous, sides closely speckled with vague bars and zig- 
 zag markings; soft dorsal and caudal barred. 
 
 Length i to i> inches. 
 
 This fish ranges from Minnesota to Michigan and Arkansas. 
 
 Hickory Creek, Marley, Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox. 
 Illinois. 
 
 Family Serranidse. 
 
 THE SEA BASSES. 
 
 Body oblong, more or less compressed; head large, mouth large, 
 with conical teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; ventral fins thoracic; 
 dorsal fin with spinous and soft part connected or not; preopercle 
 usually more or less serrate; air bladder small; stomach ccecal, with 
 few or many pyloric appendages. 
 
 a. Spinous dorsal separate from soft portion; sides with dark 
 lateral stripes not interrupted; base of tongue with teeth. 
 
 Roccus, 333 
 
 aa. Spinous dorsal joined to soft portion; sides with dark lateral 
 stripes broken on posterior half of body; base of tongue tooth- 
 less. M or one, 333 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 333 
 
 Genus Roccus Mitchill. 
 STRIPED BASS. 
 
 Body deep, compressed; mouth large, lower jaw the longer; no 
 supplemental maxillary; lower margin of preopercles serrate or entire; 
 base of tongue with i or 2 patches of teeth; dorsal fins separate; anal 
 spines 3. 
 
 Roccus chrysops (Rafinesque.) STRIPED BASS. 
 
 Head 3.1 to 3.4; depth 2.6 to 2.9; D. ix-i, 13 or 14; A. in, n to 
 13; scales 52 to 57. 
 
 Body rather deep, compressed; the back elevated; head sub- 
 conical; interorbital convex, 3.4 to 4.1 in head; mouth terminal ob- 
 lique, maxillary reaching middle of orbit; lower jaw the longer; gill 
 rakers as long as the gill filaments; cheeks and opercles with 10 to 12 
 rows of scales ; lateral line usually complete. 
 
 Color silvery, tinged with golden below; sides with narrow dusky 
 lines, about 5 above lateral line, one coincident with it, and a variable 
 number below it. 
 
 Length 12 to 18 inches. 
 
 This species inhabits the Great Lake Region and the Mississippi 
 Vallev north of Arkansas. 
 
 Genus Moroiie Mitchill. 
 
 Body rather short, deep, compressed; no supplemental maxillary; 
 lower margin of preopercle serrate or entire; base of tongue without 
 teeth; spinous and soft dorsals connected by a membrane; anal 
 spines 3 ; scales ctenoid. 
 
 Morone interrupta Gill. YELLOW BASS; STRIPED BASS. 
 
 Head 3.0 to 3.2; depth 2.7 to 2.9; D. ix-i, 12; A. in, 10; scales 
 5i to 55. 
 
 Body deep and compressed, the back elevated; head subconical, 
 pointed, jaws about equal; interorbital space slightly convex, 4.0 to 
 4.7 in head; snout 3.1 to 3.7; mouth terminal, the maxillary barely 
 reaching to middle of the orbit ; gill rakers longer than the filaments ; 
 snout 3.1 to 3.7; dorsal fins connected; cheeks and opercles with 
 about 12 rows of scales; lateral line complete or nearly so. 
 
 Color olive-buff to silvery; 3 dark lateral stripes above lateral line, 
 
334 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 FIG. 76. YELLOW BASS; STRIPED BASS. 
 
 Morone interrupta Gill. (After Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 one coincident with it and 3 or 4 below it ; stripes below lateral line 
 interrupted on posterior part of the body. 
 
 Length 12 to 18 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 Family Scisenidae. 
 
 THE DRUMS. 
 
 Body compressed, more or less elongate; scales thin, usually 
 ctenoid; head scaled; skeleton osseous; lateral line continuous, ex- 
 tending on caudal fin; gill membranes separate, free from the isthmus; 
 premaxillary protractile ; anal spines i or 2 ; ventral fins thoracic, its 
 rays i, 5; air bladder usually large and complicated. 
 
 Genus Aplodiiiotus Rafinesque. 
 
 Body oblong, compressed, the dorsal region elevated; mouth low, 
 its gape horizontal; lower jaw the shorter; no barbels; preopercle 
 slightly serrate; lower pharyngeals very large, fully united, with 
 coarse, blunt, paved teeth; dorsal fins somswhat connected, the 
 spinous dorsal with a scaly sheath at base; anal spines 2, the second 
 very strong; caudal fin doubly truncate; air bladder large, without 
 appendages. 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 335 
 
 Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque. CRACKER; FRESH-WATER 
 
 DRUM; SHEEPSHEAD; WHITE PERCH. 
 
 Head 3.3 to 3.6; depth 2.7 to 3.1; D. vin or ix i, 25 to 31; A. 
 ii, 7; scales 50 to 56. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed, the dorsal region elevated; head sub- 
 conical, with blunt snout; interorbital space slightly convex, 3.2 to 
 3.7 in head; snout 3.1 to 3.7 ; mouth subinferior, the margin of upper 
 lip below the eye; maxillary reaching middle of the eye; lower jaw 
 the shorter; gill rakers stout and shortish; cheeks and opercles 
 scaled; spinous dorsal continuous with soft portion; scales strongly 
 ctenoid; lateral line complete, much arched anteriorly and parallel 
 with dorsal outline. 
 
 Color plain silvery gray on sides and back, white on belly; fins 
 plain except for smoky gray on membranes. 
 
 Length 2 to 4 feet. 
 
 This fish inhabits the larger streams and lakes from the Great 
 Lake Region to Georgia, Texas, and Yucatan. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana; 
 Deep River, Liverpool, Indiana. 
 
 Family Cottidse. 
 THE SCULPINS. 
 
 Body moderately elongate, fusiform; head large, depressed; body 
 without scales, usually with few prickles or scale-like plates; mouth 
 broad; teeth on jaws villiform; premaxillary protractile; gill mem- 
 branes broadly connected, often joined to the isthmus; dorsal fins 2, 
 slightly connected ; ventral fins with one spine and three or four soft 
 rays; pseudo branchiag present; air bladder usually absent; pyloric 
 cceca -4 to 8 ; lateral line present. 
 
 a. Ventrals with a concealed spine and 4 soft rays. Coitus, 335 
 aa. Ventrals with a concealed spine and 3 soft rays. Uranidea, 337 
 
 Genus Cottus (Artedi) Linnaeus. 
 MILLER'S THUMBS. 
 
 Body fusiform, without scales; prickles, when present, not scale- 
 like; head broad; mouth rather large, with villiform teeth on jaws; 
 angle of preopercle with a spine, its tip curved upward; gill mem- 
 
336 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 branes broadly connected with the isthmus; ventrals with i con- 
 cealed spine and 4 soft rays; no slit behind fourth gill. 
 
 a. Preopercular spine short, its length less than % diameter of 
 eye; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 1.5 to 2 in its length. 
 
 ictalops, 336 
 
 aa. Preopercular spine long, its length more than % diameter of 
 eye; caudal peduncle slender, its length 3.3 in its length. 
 
 ricei, 336 
 
 Cottus ictalops (Rafinesque). COMMON SCULPIN; MILLER'S THUMB. 
 
 Head 3.0 to 3.5; depth 3.7 to 4.3; D. vm to ix, 16 to 18; A. 13 
 to 15. 
 
 Body fusiform; head broad, convex above; interorbital space 
 3.8 to 5.5 in head; mouth wide, lips thick; maxillary reaching to 
 middle of the orbit; snout 2.8 to 3.4 in head; preopercular spine 
 short, its length less than half diameter of the eye; spinous dorsal 
 
 FIG. 77. COMMON SCULPIN; MILLER'S THUMB. 
 
 Cottus ictalops (Raf.). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 
 
 about 3/8 height of soft dorsal; body without scales, a few prickles 
 present behind pectorals; lateral line continuous or interrupted 
 posteriorly. 
 
 Color olivaceous, more or less barred or blotched with darker, 
 fins mostly barred or mottled. 
 
 Length 3 to 7 inches. 
 
 This fish inhabits clear streams from North Dakota to North Car- 
 olina and Oklahoma. 
 
 Lockport, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 Cottus ricei (Nelson.) 
 
 Head 3.2 to 3.6; depth 5.3 to 6.2; D. vn, 16; A. 13. 
 
 Body slender; head depressed, as wide as long; interorbital space 
 narrow, 8.2 in head; mouth narrow, the maxillary scarcely reaching 
 
APRIL, 1910. FISHES OF CHICAGO MEEK AND HILDEBRAND. 337 
 
 past front of orbit; snout 3.6 in head; preopercular spine long, its 
 length more than half diameter of eye; spinous dorsal abo'ut */$ height 
 of soft dorsal; body without scales, prominent spinules behind pec- 
 torals and on top of head; lateral line continuous. 
 
 Color brownish olive, sides mottled; faint traces of two dusky 
 bars on caudal peduncle; last membranes of second dorsal dusky. 
 
 Length -2% inches. 
 
 Deep waters of Lake Michigan. 
 
 Genus Uraiiidea DeKay. 
 
 Similar to Cottus, but with smaller preopercular spines, and ven- 
 trals with one concealed spine and 3 soft rays. 
 
 Uranidea kumlienii Hoy. 
 
 Head 3.1 to 3.4; depth 5.0 to 5.2 ; D. vn or vni, 15 to 17; A. 12. 
 
 Body fusiform; head flattish above; interorbital space 7.5 to 8.6; 
 mouth narrow, the maxillary reaching to middle of orbit; snout 3.3 
 to 3.6 in head; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 2.2 to 2.4 in its 
 length; spinous dorsal ^ height of soft dorsal; preopercular spine 
 about % diameter of eye; body without scales; prickles under pec- 
 toral and on top of head; lateral line present, usually interrupted. 
 
 Color brownish olive, faintly mottled; spinous dorsal with a 
 prominent dusky blotch on anterior and posterior, 2 or 3 membranes ; 
 soft dorsal dusky toward base; pectorals reticulated with dusky. 
 
 Length 2^ inches. 
 
 This species inhabits the deeper waters of Lake Michigan. 
 
 Order Anacanfhini. 
 
 The COD FISHES. 
 
 Skeleton bony; anterior vertebras simple; fins without spines; 
 ventral fins jugular, below or in front of the pectorals; tail isocercal; 
 pectoral arch suspended from the skull ; no mesocoracoid ; air bladder 
 without open duct. 
 
338 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 
 
 Family 
 
 THE COD FISHES. 
 
 Body more or less elongate, usually not much compressed; dorsal 
 fin long, forming i, 2, or 3 fins; ventral fins jugular; caudal fin distinct 
 or confluent with the dorsal and anal; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; 
 mouth large; chin with a barbel; air bladder usually well developed. 
 
 Genus Lota (Cuvier).Oken 
 BURBOTS. 
 
 Body long and low, compressed behind, covered with small em- 
 bedded scales; head depressed; anterior nostrils each with a small 
 barbel; chin with a long barbel; gill openings wide, the membranes 
 free from the isthmus; jaws with broad bands of villiform teeth; dor- 
 sal fins 2, the first short, the second long and similar to the anal; cau- 
 dal fin rounded, vertical fins scaly. 
 
 Lota maculosa (Le Sueur). BURBOT; LING; EEL-POUT. 
 
 Head 4.7 to 5.0; depth 5.8 to 7.6; D. 12 or 13, 70 to 75 ; A. 65. 
 
 Body elongate, compressed posteriorly, the back low; head broad, 
 depressed; interorbital space flat, 3.4 to 3.6 in head; mouth large, 
 its gape horizontal, the maxillary reaching past pupil; chin with a 
 single barbel; dorsal fins 2, the second long, caudal fins rounded 
 slightly separated from dorsal and anal. 
 
 Color dark-olive, thickly marbled, and reticulated with blackish, 
 yellowish or dusky beneath ; vertical fins with dusky margins. 
 
 Length about 2 feet. 
 
 This species ranges from the Arctic Sea south to the Ohio River. 
 
 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Illinois; Lake Michigan, Millers, Indiana; 
 Lake Michigan, Pine, Indiana. 
 

 
 
 

 
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