CIHM ICIMH Microfiche Collection de Series microfiches (Monographs) (monographies) Canadian Instituta for Historical Microroproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions hittoriquas Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. 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D D D lOx 14x IIK 22x 28x 30x / 12x 18x 20x 24x 2tx 32x Th« copy film«d h«r« has b—n raproducad thanks to tha ganareaity of: National Library of Canada Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha *>••« q««»«»V poaaibia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha eriginat copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract apacif icationa. Onginal copia* in printad papar covara ara fllmad baainning vwifh tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a pnntad or illu.tratad ••"(>'••• sion. or tha back covar whan •??'«?"•*• 'i^'^. othar original copia. ara filmad bagmning on tha firat pafla with a printad or illu.tratad impraa- •ion and andino on tha last paga with a printad or illuatratad imprasaion. Tha last racordad frama on aach »««c'Oficha shall contain tha symbol -» *"'••""'« cSS-i' TINUED"). or tha symbol ▼ (moaning SNB i. whichavar appiiaa. Maoa. platas. charts, ate. may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga to ba antiraly includad in ona axposura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar. laft to right and top to bottom, as """V ««»"•• " raquirad. Tha following diagrams illustrata tha mathed: L'axamplaira film* fut raproduit grace k la g*n*rosit* da: Bibllothaqua natlonala du Canada Las imagas suivantas ont *ta raproduitas avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nanat* da l'axamplaira film*, at an conformity avac laa conditions du contrat da filmaga. Laa axampiairaa originaux dont la eouvanura an papiar ast imprimaa sont filmas an commancant par la pramiar plat at mn tarminant soit par la darniAra paga qui compona una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration. soit par la saeond plat, salon la eaa. Tous las autras axamplairas originaux sont filmM an commancant par la pramiAra paga qui compona una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par la darni*ra paga qui compona una talia amprainta. Un daa symboiaa suivants apparaitra sur la darni«ra imaga da chaqua microfiche, salon la caa: la symbola «-» signifia "A SUIVR6". la symbola ▼ signifia "FIN". Las canaa. pianchas. tableaux, ate. pauvant atra filmAs t daa taux da reduction diff erenis. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filme e panir de Tangle superieur gauche, de gauche A droite. at de haut an baa. en pranant le nombre d'imegea necasaaire. Las diagrammas suivants lllustrent la mOthoda. 6 maocorr rkoiution tbt chart (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2) 1^ 116 1 4.0 II 1^ 1 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.4 y^i^ ^ ^^EPLJEgjVHGE Inc ^Ss '653 East Main Slr«l ■S^B ("6) 288 - 5989 - Fa. '/ /• /, CHECK LIST OF THE Vertebrates of Ontario and Catalogue of Specimens in the Biological Section of the Provincial Museum FISHES BY C W. NASH. •.' i ' DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TORONTO. «C- * -*i'f r.t PUSUCATIONS DCS PlIlfUCATIOMS DU GOUVrRNEMENT m ftfatdaJPiHliiJ TORONTO hr L. K. CAMERON. PriMM i I 90a <*»iam,Hm»tM,*mhlHim QiJiU^ /Vc u^i.'^*w. ^t^.^^r) , ' )! CHECK LIST OF THE *^! Vertebrates of Ontario and Catalogue of Specimens in the Biological Section of the Provincial Museum FISHES BY C. W. NASH. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TORONTO. TORONTO Prialed •nd PuUhIirI by L. K. CAMERON. PnDln lo the- Kini'i Moil Eicdknl MaJMy I 908 WARWICK BROS h RUTTCR TORONTO. Limilol, PriMen, »HDU10tli* TiiK MoNoi'RAiiiK K. A. l»v\K. M.I)., ■Uinint^, uj Lducilion. SiH. -Thr f„||„winjj descripi n: hick list and catahifuc „f fisht,, has betn prrparcd undtr y.mr authority and direction by Mr. C. VV \.-.»h, Leiturer on Biolo,:y for the Ontario Dipartmtnt of AKriculturt-. Tht-re IS nason to Ixliev.-, that the prtwntation of thtse lists will greatly fac.htaf the study of animal life on the part of our people and especially, of the younjj. whether they are pursuinjf systematic .studies m natural science or merely from a desire to acquire casual informati.m relatinif to th<' .subject. The economic importance of knowledR:e concerninjf all forms of III.' is especially valuable in this Province, where the preat bulk of our wealth is drawn direct from the hands of nature. Unfortunately too httle attention haji be«n paid to this subject in the past, with the result that many of our most valuable forms of life are threat«ned with e> ter- mination. This is particularly the . i.se with our fish, many species of which have entirely disappeared from our waters, while others formerly so abundant as to have been within the reach of every person are now luxuries only obtainable by the rich. Our lakes, with the application of scientific methods, could undoubt- edly be made to produce an unfailing supply of cheap and wholesome frKjd. This however, will only be done whi.n those enjjafred in the fisheries have a better knrnvUdjre of the habits of the fi.sh they capture, and the jr.neral public are more TmIIv informed of the value' of this important national a.«sef. DAVID IU)^•|,|•:, Superititemlfiit. t»l PREFACK. In this work the writer hai endeavored to give conciie dcicriptionM of itll the fi»h known to inhabit the wntpr* i»f the F'r )vince of Ontario. The riassifiration and Mqumce of (;r<>upK ado^itcd is that of Jordan ■nd Evermann, to whom I am alio chirRy indebted for the trrhniral dm- cription. In the description of species the expressions "head 4" or "dcptli 4" mean that the lrn);th nf the head in one case, or the (greatest drpth of the body in the other, is contained 4 times in tht leni;th of the fish measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the last caudal vertebra, the caudal fin beinfi^ not included. The si/e of the eye and the lenfjth of snout and othi'r head parts are compared with the len|;th of the side nf the head, unless otherwise stated. ; thus "eye 5" means that the horixon- tal diameter of the eye is 1-5 the length of the head, "scales 5-ft4-7" means that there are 5 rows of scales between the base of the dorsal fin and the lateral line (the scale in (he lateral line exriuded), 64 oblique trvn- verse series crossing' the later'.: nc and 7 horizontal series bctteeen the lateral line and the base of the anal or the vent. The fin formulae are shortened as much as possible; thus "D. 10," "D. IV, 9," c- "D. Vin-13" means that in the first case the fish has a single dorsal fin of 10 soft or articulated rays; '..-. the second case a single dorsal fin of 4 spines and 9 soft rays; and the last indicates a fish with two dorsal fins, the first composed of 8 spines and the second of 13 rays. Spines are always indicated in roman letters and rays in arabic letters. The measurements given are intended to apply to the average of mature fishei:. Young fishes usually have the depth kss, the head d tye larger and the mouth smaller in proportion than adult example > f the sa.ne species. The coloration and marking of fishes is extreirrly van able, no two individuals being exactly alike; and not only so, bi'i each individual changes its color from time to time in accc^-Ju.-.ce with 1;, surroundings. All color descriptions as given herein are in'.. Ii.d to apply to the normal adult in its hightest development as found in the waters to which it is best adapted. C. W. NASH. [»1 i - CHECK LIST OF THE FISHES OF ONTARIO. PISCES (The Fishes). The Fishes may be defined as cold-blonded vertebrates, adapted for life in the water, breathing by means of gills attached to bony or cartilaginous gill arches; having the skull well developed and with a lower jaw ; with limbs present and developed as fins, or rarely wanting through atrophy; with shoulder girdle present, furcula shaped, curved forward and with the sides connected below ; with pelvic bones present ; having the exoskeleton developed as scales or bony plates, or horny appendages, sometimes obsolete, and with the median line of body with one or more fins composed of cartilaginous rays connected by mem- brane. The Lampreys differ so widely from the true fishes, having no jaws, no limbs and no trace of the bones to which limbs should be hung that they are properly excluded from consideration as fishes. I have, however, included them here, as they are popularly believed to be fish and are of economic importance to our fishery interests from the fact that they destroy vast numbers of valuable food fish. [7] # CHECK LIST OF THE Ci«ss MARSIPOBRANCHII. (The Lampreys.) ^oJ^^^S^- %ltt Xr^ 1:-'°Pe^. not separate no pelvic elements, no ribs. GilL in T' f "'''"• "'^ '''"'"'«'^' girdle, branchial arches, six or more in nullr' "" f '^''^'^ ^«"' ^^^hou median. Mouth sub-inferior sCcS'^ *^"'^ ^'^^^ Nostril single without arterial bulb. AlimeAtarv^ i' "^ °'' '^^^ circular. Heart appendages, pancreas, or s^n. ' vrrtLTfi'*^'^ I'T'^' -'*"""' "-" continuous round the tail. Naked^ ^ fins with feeble rays, usually waers. They undergo a metamori^h • T*^ ^"''"^'^ inhabit ng coo^ unlike the adult. ^ metamorphosis, the young being often qu he Order HYPEROARTII. (The L.n.prey,., >^asal duct a blind sac, not penetrating the palate. Famuv PETROMYZONID^. (t„h L.mpkhvs., nearl^^etr.'re'd^'Srbo;;?^^^^^^^ --P-ed be..,nd; mouth more or less deeply divided b^a notS 'trL'". '™"* **' ^^^ '<»orsar;n --s ..th the anal around ^ Sf i^tttin-fS^Tp^irX'f e^^J bejt:.te- b-tfth^ J^ruffeSy'^^ '-^^ °^ «" ^P->« withTh'eTr rfs^^Ske'S.^^^ *° "^"^^ ^^ ^^d by scraping off th. flesh Geni;s ICTHYOMYZON. teethl^S at? ^seTogeTht'^Sr '"•^'^ ^^'^ '^ ^ »"- -Parate anterior lingual tooth divided bv^'J^- """'"^ « crescent-shaped plate but not separated into two^oSons " ^^'""" '^''^ ''""a' "^ "oftd FISH OF ONTAUIO. (i) Silver Lamprey. Lamper Eel. (Icthyomyzon concolor.) Body rather stout, compressed posteriorly. The head is broad and the buccal disk large, with its edges not conspicuously fringed. The tooth on the front of the tongue is divided into two parts by a median groove, and the dorsal fin is continuous but deeply notched. The maxillary tooth is bicuspid ; the teeth on the disk are in about four series and all small. The tooth-bearing bone of the lower part of the mouth has seven cusps. There are fifty-one muscular impressions from gills to vent. Colour bluish silvery, sometimes with blackish mottlings. Above each gill opening there is a small bluish blotch. Length about twelve inches. The Silver Lamprey is abundant in the Great Lakes, usually in deep water, but it runs up the small streams to spawn in the spring. It is a most destructive parasite on the large commercial fishes, fixing itself to their bodies by means of its suctorial disk and causing deep ulcerated wounds at the point of attachment, which very frequently result in death. When spawning they form nests in the bed of the stream among cobble stones and pebbles; in these the eggs are deposited, after which the parent fish all die. After emerging from the eggs the larvs burrow in the mud or sand near the margin of the stream and there remain in the larval condition, blind and toothless for a long period, sometimes until they have attained a length of eight inches. Genus LAMPETRA. Dorsal fin either notched or divided into two parts, the posterior part continuous with the anal around the tail; supraoral lamina broad, cres- centic, with a large obtuse cusp at each end and sometimes a minute median cusp; lingual teeth small, with a crescentic toothed edge, the median denticle enlarged; buccal disk small, with few teeth which are never tricuspid. The genus Lampetra is best distinguished from Petromyzon by the structure of its so-called maxillary tooth, which has the form of a crescent shaped plate with terminal cusps and sometimes an additional median cusp. In Petromyzon this bony plate is short and contains two or three teeth which are very closely placed. 10 CHECK LIST OF THE (•>) Brook Lamprey. (Lampetra wilderi.) &=Sr™---ft=r';i:.t;.S:'sH . ^ t^olour, bluish black aboi « • i ' Thi I "•'"^ •^•'^■"^- ^-^^^ ^«-"t ei«ht small s reamsTn'Th/'"^- ' ''^""^^ '^e (ireat L^kes r. • ^'Ke tne rest of the f 'i • ^ I am not positive as tn"lu '* '^ Pa^sitic on other fish CI.8S PISCES. (The Fishes.) and developed II R^ "1 P™^''ded with a lower iaw- th r !' ^^^'"^ Div.«».,f f . ""*• ""arey wantino- fh..^ ^ J*** • *"e limbs present Subclass TELEOSTOMI. (True Fishes ) 5»keleton usuallv h '»nes.; membrane bone.. (operT^'n^'"^*'?" "Cartilaginous. Skull wifh . St on each ^.a ^ Pf'^*^'^' Preopercle, etc ) Dr«,.nf . -n *" sutures ; KISH OK ONTAUM). II Under this head are now included the Ganoids and the Teleosts. The former group is chiefly composed of extinct forms. While many of its representatives are extremely dissimilar to the bony fishes, there is a gradual series of transitions, and between the C^ycloganoidea of the Ganoids and the Clupeoids and others of the true Teleosts, the resemblance is much greater than that between the Cycloganoidea and many other (ianoids. The Ganoids are in fact the most generalized of the true fishes, those nearest the stock from which the Teleosts on the one hand and the Dipnoi, on the other, have sprung. Series GANOIDEI. (Ganoid Fishes.) The name Ganoidei was first used by Agassiz for those fishes which are armed with bony plates, instead of regular cycloii: or ctenoid scales. Later the group has been restricted to those fishes thought to show more or less reptilian or batrachian affinities, and especially affinities with the mailed fishes of th- Devonian and Carboniferous ages. The group is a heterogeneous one and one scarcely susceptible of definition, in some of the Ganoids the air bladder still retains its original function, a lung. The existence of the solid optic chiasma, the presence of several valves in the arterial bulb, and of a more or less developed spiral valve in the intestine, distinguish the living Ganoids from all Teleosts. Order SELACHOSTOMI. (Paddlefishes.) Notochord persistent, the division into vertebra; imperfect Meso- coracoid developed ; no symplectic bone ; premaxillary forming border of mouth ; no suboperculum, preoperculum, nor interoperculum ; mesoptery- gium distinct ; basihyals and superior ceratohyal not ossified ; interclavicles present ; maxillaries obsolete ; branchihyals cartilaginous. Famii.v POLVODONTID.K. (P.M)I>i eusiiks.) Body fusiform, little compressed, covered with mostly smooth skin. Snout prolonged, expanded into a thin flat blade, the inner portion formed by the produced nasal bones, the outer portion with a reticulate bony framework, the whole somewhat flexible. Mouth broad terminal, but overhung by the spatulate snout, its border formed by the premaxillaries, the maxillaries being obsolete ; jaws with many fine deciduous teeth ; simi- lar teeth on palatines ; no tongue. Spiracles present. Operculum rudi- mentary, Its skin produced behind into a long acute flap; no pseudo- branchiffi, or opercular gill ; gills four and one-half ; gill rakers long, in a double series on each arch, the series divided by a broad membrane ; gill u CHECK MST OF THE membranes con suboperculum or preoperculum. Intcroperculum present. Mesopterygiuni distinct. Interclavicles present. Hasihyals and superior ccratohyal not ossified. Branchiliyals osseous. This group is composed of the single family Acipenserida;, represented in our Province by one species. Famii-v ACIFENSKRID.li. Hody elongate, subcylindrical, armed with five rows of bony bucklers, each with a median carina which terminates in a spine, which sometimes becomes obsolete with age; a median dorsal scries and a lateral and abdominal series on each side, the abdominal scries sometimes deciduous ; between these the skin is rough with small irregular plates. Head covered with bony plates joined by sutures ; snout produced, depressed, conical or subspatulate. Mouth small, inferior, protractile, with thickened lips. No teeth. Four barbels in a transverse series on the lower side of the snout in front of the mouth. Eyes small ; nostrils large, double, in front of eye. fiills, four; an accessory opercular gill; gill membranes united to the isthmus; no branchiostegals. Maxillary distinct from the premaxillary. Head covered with bony plates united by sutures. Fin rays slender, all articulated, vertical fins with fulcra. Pectorals placed low; ventrals many rayed, behind middle of body; dorsal placed posteriorly; anal somewhat behind it, similar; tail heterocercal, the lower caudal lobe developed, the upper lobe of the tail covered with rhomboid scales. Air bladder large, simple, connected with the oesophagus. Pseudobranchia; small or obso- 'ete. Stomach without blind sac; intestine with a spiral valve; pancreas divided into pyloric appendages. Large fishes, feeding on small animals, sucked in through the tube- like mouth. Most of the species are migratory. The changes with age are considerable, the snout in particular becomes much shorter and less acute and the roughness of the scales is greatly diminished ; the ventral shields sometimes disappear altogether. r.ENus ACIPEXSER. Sno'.t subconical, more or less depressed below the level of the fore- head, A small spiracle over the eye. Caudal peduncle moderately long, deeper than broad, the rows oi bony bucklers distinct to the base of the caudal fin. Tail not produced into a filament, its tip surrounded by the caudal rays. Gill rakers small, narrowed or lanceolate. Pseudobranchise present. 14 CHECK MST OK THK Order RHOMBOGANOIDEA. (The Gar Pikes.) Parietals in contact- t • mesopterygiun, an/fiTe other ,"''? ^"'"^ •^'^'"d- PeSa, fil, "'^'^t' Ijladder ;une-like vincT' '''"'''' elements Tail hi. "* ^'*'' ptrTo;V,t"'''"'''»^°h"'^tiX'ia^ra"'l^??r'^^^^^^^^^ iHfkish >'ounjf, 1 with 'cntral old of Lake iiffcr. •merit Very irger rcial 'rom arge s or iscd for rae lar •er et th ir s. v::;::;!. a 2f. I ! i s*:i KIHH OK U.NTAKIO. » s 3 or two wricn of lartjc Wvth, IksUU., whkh on the jii«H mhiht jiml |>aliiiiiiei iiro a M-rii'M of small, ot, la-tp-llki- tcrtli. l,ar>{.- iciih ol th.- jaws coniral in form, (Miinled and striate, j>larr<| at ri>{lit ant;l.-s to the jaw. l*har)nKtal> with rasp-like t«-i-th. lonKtu* tfMiihliss, short, hroaci, i-mar- uinatf, friu at tip. Kxtrrnal Ixims r>f skull \try hard and ruKuso. Mvos small. Nostrils m-ar thr t-nd of iIm> uptH-r jaw. ,\n ani-ss.iry k>II on th.- iiimr sidi- of the o|mt( Ir. I'stiidohranchiii' present. .No spiracles. (;i||,, lour, a slit iH-hind the fourth. UranthiosUKals. three, (iill memhranes somewhat .onn.ite«l. fnr from (he isthnui (iill rakirs very short. Air hhulder cellular, lunR-like, somewhat fumi.. nal. {"ins with fulcra ; dorsal hn short, r;ither hi^li, posterior, nearly opposite the anal, which is similar in form; tail heltroccrc.M, i:i the youMf; produced as .1 lilament Ixyond the caudal fin; caudal convex; \entr:ds nearly mimc of the palatine teeth :,re often enl.irged, these sometimes forming regular series. Lower jaw with ;m outer series of small teeth, next a series of '.irge leith, next again a broad band of fine t-vtli on each side. Fa.h the large teeth fitting into a depression in the opposite jaw. Si iir.RM s LliFISOSTEUS. (5) Gar-flsh. Gar Pike. Bill-fish. (I.I pisosteU'- iissciis. ) Body eiong.ite sub"""» '"^i dark spots. "'*"''• Vertical hns with numerous rount RivaJSrS't'oS'Ssl^^l'StS ''' """r ^'- L— Huron. I have no records fromT,ke S„n? "".'? '^^ ^"^'^ °^ Lake abundant in Lake Erie. It is said to'.tlT T= ^".'' '* '" P^l^^^ly most possibly do so in southern waters but IS. ^ '"^*'' °^ ^'^ ^"'^ ^"^ '"ay Province which would exceed ^ou'r fet As aTo'd rT °"^ *^'^^" '" *"'' flesh being considered unwholesome I ^ c^ ^ f'' " '^ ^^'"e'ess, its summer, running up the iargtr^ams 'J t^ ^u^o^e.^'''''"^ ''' ''''''' Subgenus CYLINDROSTEUS. (6) Short-nosed Gar. (Lepisosteus platostomus.) may^'rXt'ilstL^gui^h^^^^ i'rsh:;;" '■'"^^-' ^■•- 'hat species it specimens does not much exceed the r^«rr..'T'' ''^'"'^ ^'^" '" voung length, about three feet. ^' '"'' "^ *'^« ''^"d in length. Alaximum ?he ^Shon-n'ose^d ' G.r S""' "" '■''^^'■^' ""^' '''''«"» S6. abu^a.e^i„,r^,^— - ESp^^t '^^^^ ''^ -"'^ °' of n^'J^.;^^:TS Sr^"^' ' '- ^ -^-.^.Clve creature and Order CYCLOGANOIDEA (The Bov.flns.) Parietals in contact Pt/>.- >■ u ■ simple. Mandible with 'optrcuTar' H^'"' "'^"^ '"'"'^ ''"'^'"'°'' ^'^'•*«'"-^' ;-ely segmented, bordering he mouth""Th'H ''"'''"^'■>' "«' ""-- lying on enlarged fourth. Unoer hLiT i '' superior pharyngeal the anterior not modified. T tor. In^;;^^- ^-'■''=''- -PhicaS other elements. .Ai. „,dder celluTr fnd lung-ll!!-""''-"'^"" '""" ^'^''^ Fa.m,ly AMIID^. (The B„„p,v,s.) lc..^^^!:;r&mSlSti?^^^S^t "^^n- ^-^ -^con- Rated and very hard, scarcdy c'^vcredZ sk n' T'"'"'' ''""^^ ^''-"- lateral marg.ns of upper iaw Lmed 4 ^ txilla^nS^ -J^^i FISH OF ONTARIO. 17 by a longitudinal suture. Jaws nearly even in front ; cleft of the mouth nearly horizont;il, extending beyond the .small eye; lower jaw broad, the rami well .separated; between them a broad, bony plate, with railialing stria-, its posterior edge free; jaws each with an outer .series of conical teeth, behind which in the lower is a band of rasp-like band.s of small teeth on the vomer and pterygoids ; palatines with a .series of larger pointed teeth ; premaxillaries not protractile ; tongue thick, .scarcely free at tip. Nostrils well separated, the anterior with a short barbel ; suborbital very narrow; a bony plate covering the cheek, similar to the plates on the top of the head ; operculum with a broad dermal border. Branchiostegals ten to twelve. No p.seudobranchise nor opercular gill ; no spiracle ; gills, four, a slit behind the fourth; gill membranes not connected; free from the isthmus. Two peculiar, long, lanceolate obliquely striate appendages on each side of the isthmus, projecting backward and covered by the branchio- stegal rays, the anterior wholly adnate to the isthmus, the posterior free behind. Isthmus scaleless. Gill rakers stoutish, very short. Scales of moderate size, rather firm, cycloid, with a membranous border. Lateral line present. Dorsal fin long and low, nearly uniform, the posterior rays not much higher than the others ; its in.sertion in front of the middle line of the body, opposite the end of the pectoral. Tail somewhat heterocercal (more .so in the young), convex behind, no fulcra. .\nal few, short and low. Pectoral and ventral fins short and rounded, the ventrals nearer anal than pectorals. Vertebra amphicnelian or double concave, as usual among fishes, none of them .specially modified. Abdominal and caudal parts of the vertebral column subequal. .■\ir bladder cellular, bifid in front, lung-like, connected by a glottis with the pharynx and capable of assisting in respiration. Stomach with a blind sac ; no pyloric caeca. No dosed oviduct. Intestine with a rudimentary spiral valve. Only one species of this family is known among living fishes, but sexeral fossil genera are commonly referred to it. Gexus AMIA. (Bowfins.) Body oblong, compressed behind, terete anteriorly; head subconical, anteriorly bluntish, slightly depressed, its superficial bones corrugated and very hard, scarcely covered by skin; snout short, rounded; lateral margins of upper jaw fcr!"ed by the maxillaries, which are divided by a longitudinal suture; jaws nearly even in front; cleft of the mouth nearly horizontal, extending beyond the small eye; lower jaw broad, U-shaped, the rami well separated ; between them a broad, bony plate, with radiating stria, its posterior edge free; jaws each with an outer scries of conical teeth, behind which in the lower is a band of rasp-like teeth ; bands of small teeth on the vomer and pterygoids; palatines with a series of larger, pointed teeth ; premaxillaries not protractile ; tongue thick, .scarcely free at tip ; nostrils well separated, the anterior with a short barbel ; suborbital very -M 18 f^HKCK LIST OK THE 'nt.s; t,vo peculiar Ion/ 1^^ olbi""*,'"""^'^''^^' ^^^^ f-m he ih -de of the isthmus, projecting £ckSr^' f "'""^ ^PPend.-.ges on ead h h^*''V"''^"*: 'he anteri,,r uho»y adnn e to T T'''"^ **> ^^e branchio behind; isthmus scaleless; gil rtkers L. ,• K*^ """"'"*• ''^'^ Po-^t^nor fre. erate s,.e. rather firm, cwfo^d with . k' '"■>' "''"^^ = ««=«'es of mod present; dorsal fin long ind „w " . """^^'''"°^^ border; .ateral Hnc '""eh higher than the others M^il T' ^""'^r'"'" '^'^ P^^terior rays no young), convex behind ; no fulcnl'r^'f ^''^''-^'^^^^-^ (more so in tl"e i::^''^"- /!"c< rounded:r\rn L r^ !r!-_ll-= Pecto.a. and ,.,.,.„. ^ ■"""" "'no rounded, the ventmlc „ . ' P^etoral and vertebra amphico-lian or double conC". f '''"^' "'^" pectorals; them specallv modified; abdominT;'^ 'r.''"' '""""^ "''hes, none o eolumnsubequal; air bladder eSVblfidTnr' P'"'!^' "^ ^'^'^ ^-^''^bral by a glott.s with the pharynx and ;.„',, r'""*: '""^-'ike, connected stomach with a blind .ac- po ^v^or:, '^ *" "^ ''^'"''"■"S '" --cspiration ".th a rudimentary spiral ^'alv^!''"' """'■'■' "" '"'"-d oviduct ; intestine (7) Dogfish. Bowfin. Mudfish. (Amia calva.) •Male with a round black snot ^l k" r - '^''^^^' "somewhat mottled -unded by an orange or vXwIi -^ 'r'";' '" ■'"'"-• 'bis i^ ut or more often wanting. ' '"^' '" "^«" female this is very faint. Lateral line nmri«. ™ r Scales onjatera, "Sf^br sixiy^^^^^ ^''^-^^'^ "P-^d at each end. ■^-^" ^ri-K^^ male, sometimes reaching a ^ This fish is found gener llv d V h 7. ' """"''^ ''^^'''^"■ from the upper St. Lrr^nt" tf, t fhe . '"/^'r"^*'''"^'' "^ -eedvvvaters record, for Lake .Superior. I i onrof th ''■■''''' ""■■""• ^ ''ave n" feeding upon all forms of smJl frv . '""'' voracious of our fishes very destructi^■e to the more WuSe f '"""V^ '"'' ''^^'^ abundant s to be soft, nauseous, and qu.V: 'Imtatlr' "' ''' "'" ''' '^^^ - -^d batched, and afterwardrprote^l^^/Z'^^X t^^^,;'"'" '^^^ ^ FISH OF ONTARIO. 19 Series TELEOSTEI. (The Bony Fishes.) This group comprises the majority of existing fishes. It is appiirt^nlK descended from the Ganoid type. As a whole, the Teleostei differ from the Ganoids in the more perfectly ossified skeleton, the less heferoccrral tail, the degradation of the air bladder and the arterial bulb, :ind in the sim- plicity of the optic chiasma. The Teleostei are divisible into two great groups with rather ill- defined boundaries, the Physostomi, or soft-rayed fishes, and the Physo- clysti, or spiny-rayed. The members of the former group have through- out life a slender duct, by which the air bladder is joined to the alimentary canal. In most cases the fin rays arc soft, the ventral fins abdominal, the pectoral fins placed low, and the scales cycloid. Although the typical Physostomi differ in many ways from the more specialized Physoclysti, yet as ut- approa<-h the junction of the two groups the subordinate differ- ences disappear, leaving finally the presence of the lir duct in Physostomi as the only differential character. Subclass OSTARIOPHYSI. This group is characterized chiefly by the modification of the anterior vertebra. These are coossified and have some of their lateral and superior elements detached and modified to form a chain of small bones, the Web- erian ossicles, which connect the air bladder with the ear. end. Order NEMATOGNATHI. (Catflshes.) This order cont.iins several families, which agree in having the sub- opercle wanting, the anterior vertebric coalesced, and the maxillary reduced to the bony core of a long barbel. None of the order have scales. Famii V .SILURII)/H. (Cati isiies.) Body more or less elongate, naked, or with bony pla' ? No true scales. Anterior part of head with two or more barbels ; the base of the longest pair formed by the small or rudimentary maxillarv. Margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries only. Suboperculum absent ; oper- culum present. Dorsal fin usually present, short, above or in front of the \entrals. Usually an adipose fin behind dorsal. First ray of dorsal ani. pectorals usually developed as a stout spine. Lower pharyngeals separate. Air bladder usually present, large :md connected with the organ of hearing by means of the auditory ossicles. A vast family of more than one hundred genera and upwards of nine hundred species, mostly of the rivers and swamps of warm regions, especially of South Americ.i and Africa. A few species are m.irine. They are all very tenacious of life and most of them are excellent as food. 30 CHECK LIST OF THE ■cai; sV-rSptal ^^p.^ro t Pof^-'y; i-e.d slender con (8) Channel Cat. Spotted Cat. (IctaJurus punctatus.) Head rather srmll from the second interspinal buckler st P^'^^T^'ch is entirely separate rather small; mouth lar^e the n^^ ""'"'"^ '^^ bones thick ev" broad bands on tho • "PP^"" Jaw usually th^ u„ ' ^^* convpv .-n f "*^ Premaxillaries and m- ,h-ki ,. '<'"&e''; teeth in 3 •J a a. O 2 ^ff^ FISH OF ONTARIO. t\ than lung, with a sharp spine and about six branched rays; adipose tin short, inserted over the posterior half of the anal. .\nal fin of varying; length, with fifteen to thirty-five rays, the usual number being twenty or twenty-one. Caudal fin short, truncate in typical species, more or less forked in those species which approach the genus Ictalurus. Ventrals each with one simple and seven branched rays. Pectorals each with a stout spine, which is commonly retrorse serrate beh'nd. Lateral line usually incomplete. The species are variable and not easily distinguished. Those in which the caudal fin is forked make an approach to the genus Ictalurus. The lack of connection between the supraocripital and the interspinal buckler is the only character by which the.se species can Ije separated from Icta- lurus. Sin(;K\rs H.M'STOK. (9) Lake Catfish. Channel Cat. (.Vmeiurus lacustris.) Head broad, much depressed; mouth wide; eye rather small. Body stout ; dorsal base short, one-half the height of fin. Adipose fin well developed ; caudal not deeply forked ; pectoral spine as long as dorsal spine. Colour olivaceous slaty, growing darker with age ; sides pale, no spots ; anal dusky on edge ; barbels black. li. I., 5 to 6; A., 25; V. I., 8. This Catfish has a wide range, and is consequently variable. It is generally distributed throughout the Great Lakes and in deep rivers, but is more abundant in Lake Erie than any other of our waters. .•\s a food fish it is highly esteemed by people who have no prejudices against Catfish in general, though, like the rest of the tribe, its appear- ance is not prepossessing. In the south specimens weighing over one hundred pounds are said to be taken, but with us the fish very rarely attains a greater weight than about thirty pounds. Of its habits but very little is known. It is a bottom feeder and will take a great variety of baits. Night lines set in its haunts and baited with pieces of fish or small frogs are successfully used in taking it. SiiiOKMs XMKIURl'.S. (10) Yellow Catfish. (Amciurus natalis.) Head rather broad; mouth wide, with the upper jaw usually longer than the lower, sometimes equal. The dorsal profile gradually ascends from the snout to the dorsal spine. Eye moderate; maxillary barbel reach- CHECK LIHT OF THK «bou, eigh.cr inche, • " ^ "" """^ "»>' "">:". I..ngl no. ": ™r£i^'i™£-J-«^" <^.»~, En. .„„ H„„„. „ i (ii) Long-jawed Catfish. (Anifiurus vulgaris ) 'ong[tiSmo:?r^^:::: s^ct?^'^"^- '-■-''''' -"'" -^^= ^-bc. pose fin well developed The p2 orll^oi^^'-''"^- '''>" ^'^'■y ^'"^"- Adi- ?s long as the fin. Caudal square alfJunlf"' "' -"""' '""-^'"'-^ vinceytnTt:/:;rdamf"rSeT'^ "^'^^^ "'™"«''"- ^'^ '^- conditions it sometimes attabra4Lt''''fT'''''''^- ^'"^'^'- ^^^'''-^b'e good as a food fish as the res" of itT Hh. "^^P"' .P«""ds and is equally habits. '^''^ "^ '*^ *'■'''«•. which It also resembles in its (Ii) Common Catfish. Bullhead. (Ameiurus nebulosus.) BarbSreightr'LxX; Sd^'lf Lt'^'^'-'r^ '•'- ''- '"-r. of snout to dorsal fin straight and rath./ . '^'^ ' '^T'''^ P^^'^ f™"" t'P teeth awl-shaped, in broad bands on th/?J ' ""V/,'' -i^e and terminal; dorsal situated in front of Sddle of '''„V"'""'«'""«'-'es and dentaries ; stout; anal large. Caudal Tpuare or .^f.V ""? '''^'^ = ^'''P''^'^ A" variable, usually dark yenowlh L ^i ^ ^ emarginate. Colour verv becoming yellowish or JlrnosTwhi^e S^^ """^''? "'*'' '^^'■'^- -''-ve; D. I., 6; A., 20 to ™"'J"t'=g below; sometimes entirely black. a we!^ Tft ^SS; ZZZJrS^"' ''^ "'''^'^ '-'^ ^^ however, much less It is fh„\. ^ r° *''°^^ *^'*^" '" our waters is ss^:iz ir' '-- -- ";r t- -s;»"£ riSH OK ONTARIO. eight in('he one fuut in diameter, by cli-iiring out a slight .topn-ssinn in the mud nr sand. In this nc^t about t\so thousnnd egg!) are depoNiied, over which the parent.*: keep guard, the male being mo.st assiduoiis in the work 'il protection. In about a week the eggs are hatched inj llic Miung, 4'hich look very like little black tadpoles, iiillow the parent flsh alont; ilu- shores until nearly the middle of July, when they arc left to shift for them- selves ; after this the fry soon .scatter and disappear into ntra> ted anteriorly; the dorsal profile straight and rather steep from tip of snout to dorsal fin; eye rather small; barbels longer than head. C'.mdal peduncle stout. Tail truncate ; adipose fin well developed ; teeth very fine, awl- shaped and in broad bands. Kays of anal fin white, in marked contrast with the dark membranes. The dorsal .spine strong and sharply pointed ; anal fin short and deep. D. I., 6; A., 17 to ir This is a small species, rarely exceeding ten inches in length. In colour it varies from yellowish brown to black above, becoming bluish white below. I am not certain that this species should be included here, ihiui^jh it is recorded from the upper St. Lawrence and from the south shore of Lake Ontario, in New York State, and I believe that many years ago I took it in the County of Lincoln, Ontario. It will probably Ix; found sp.iringly in Lake Erie, but its centre of abundance is south and west of this Pro- vince. Genus NOTURUS. (Stone Catfish.) Body moderately elongate, robust except in caudal part, which is much compressed; head flat and broad; m^uth terminal broad: teeth in broad villiform bands on premaxillaries and dentaries ; teeth of upper jaw- prolonged back-vard into an elongate triangular extension; adipose fin adnate to the back ; a poison gland at the ba.se of the pectoral spine. fHKCK I.IKT OK THK (14) StoM Catltk. (N'ofuriiJi flavuR.) bark reaches .n.l of ov,. tL I, wTli~ ""','"•;"' :."«"»• hnrbel when I and continue, into the cnuHal n aT" ""'''«'"'« <»ct the «nal ori C^.ud.. fin rounded. iC-^t *; „ ';' .r'^r:.!' ■' ^^"^ ""'-^ UnRth about twelve inches O. I.,6..\.. ,6;V,.y; p. I.,,^. handle Im-auso of ,ho .k.S. 'l ^ .i " •;^*- '/ T ''" ""P'-a' "' '"•'"'= ^"poro^ripital nl upper jaw somewh.u the loX '"• .k'^'"';^ ' '"?'.'' '•''^R«- •"'"'"'••ior, tl jaws. ,he band in the upp^rTaw ?b .?n,r. ""'^ '" ''^""'' '••■"«<•* "> '^ prolonged int., n backward ext^sion'^-- v"'"'^""' "* '''"''' ^•"'' •'"'" -" dorsal fin nearer .0 veral'lh:^ ''V :,;rT";^r-'r;«-^^ "'"" xeven rays; adipos,. fin long and low ■dn-.^^ .k ^ '*""■' "P'"*' *''" ■vith the caudal fin. the adipose meZ^-n • ^ 'T^> •'"•' ">n'int.ou sometimes emargina.e; caS'd fr^erv ohir""T'''"'' '''*'''' •""* -ntinuou., base also obliquWv rounded mnn '"J. "*''"l'"'y truncilcd nr rounder!, i, the caudal p^dunre S' T short '."k"'- ?-"" """' ' ' '^ -^ >-•''- ventrals rounded; pI;,or" I fins wi.h '. sT '^"'"'' *," '--"^y-'hree ray, well in front of anSi fi^ a er.l I ne comn.^''''"^ "' r""'''"^ '^^"^ = ^''^ by an orifice in the axil o 1^1 "ornl '^S^n . P"'^? «''''"'' "P"-"* spines are exceedingly painful. '' '•"""'^ ''>' "''" P^''">-" Sinc.EMs SCHILBHODE.S. (15) Tadpole Stone Cat. Mad Tom. (Schilbeodes gyrinus.) originroVeX^rtt;r;t'S"5shr'^" '7-r' '-- "^^ ^--" ne.-.rly equal to its length J ws ne^Hv em ;• ""'I ''*P'-«"«^'^- '»" width .axillary barM reacts i.^.:^^, Z^^^^ S oit^^li^ riSH or ONTARIO. horl, IciiiKcr si when liiid aniil uri^in >ly nntched. It. roiii^hiNh ^ the Lake snni fish to •rnl spines. s the oiiflit i«'n is dis- D.sti'riorly ; cipital not Irrior, the nrfs in the rt and not fjals nim-; .spine and ■ontiniious ■ntiniioii.s, iinflt'H, its ind bflow rce rny.i; •rm; vent I opening ■ pertoral hiirbtl ii flifthtly longer. The nuKat barlx-l i* one-half .i«* long as Hit- head. Adipose fin low, lM-){innin({ over the nnal origin and is continuous with thr raiidal. The ventr.,1 origin is under the em! ..f the dorsal liane, lite lin does not reaeh to anal origin. The raudal i.s rouidcd. Colour brownish without blotrhrs. I>. I., o; A., i.i to 15; P I., H. This little Cntft oblong or elongate, usually more or less compressed. Head more or less conical. Opercles normally developed. Nostrils double ; no barbels; mouth large or sm.nll, usually protractile and with fleshv lips M.irgin of upper jaw formed in the middle by the sm.ill premaxillaries and on the side by the maxillaries; jaws toothless. Lower pharvnge.il bones falciform, armed with a single row of numerous comh-like' teeth Hranchiostegals three ; gill membranes more or less united to the isthmus, restricting the gill openings to the sides; gills four, a slit behind the 3 P. 2« CHECK LIST OF THE uur, : pseudobranchiic present. Scales cycloid, large or small. Late line curved, sometimes wanting. Head naked ; fins not scaly. Dor • . .-nparatively long (of ten to fifty rays), without true spine; anal short; caudal hn more or less forked; ventrals abdominal, with about i rays; pectoral hns placed low, without spine; no adipose fin; belly i serrated Ahmentary canal long. Stomach simple ; no pyloric caMra. . bladder large, divided into two or three parts by transverse constrictio, not surrounded by a bony capsule. Genus ICTIOBUS. (Buffalo Fishes.) Body robust ; head very large and strong. Eye moderate, anteri. I<)ntanelle large, well open. Opercular apparatus largely developed; t suboperculum broad; the operculum strongly furrowed. Mouth large f a sucker, terminal, protractile forward, or downward and forward. Ma dible strong, oblique. Lips little developed ; the upper narrow and sm' "''°^'= '""^ -"'-■«'^. ^elow^h lateral line, and nearly twice as far from the back as from the belly Hea. moderate, triangular in outline when viewed from the side. Mouth quit rTnldVv H "!^ J f. "u- u^""' '" '^'- ""^^"' «" «''«^-''»''d '" front an, rapidly declined, the highest ray reaching much beyond t'.e middle of th, hn, the seventh ray about half the length of the third or longest. .An.-, rays rapidly shortened behind ; the middle rays much shorter than the fins long ones. Caudal deeply lunate. Clour, pale, slightly dusky; fin scarcely dusky. D.. 29; A., ,0; V., 10. Scales, 8, 39, 6. ill. Lateral ily. Dors.'i! r>e; anal fin h about ten ; belly not caMra. Air mstrictions, E, anterior, eloped; the h large for ard. Man- id .sm(X)th ; ti in front, well devel- teeth num- the upper downward, developed, somewhat caudal not moderate. ry few of r.s, especi- leed much sal region below the ly. Head luth quit'' front and die of th.> St. .An.fl 1 the first isky ; fins I FISH (IK O.NTAItlO. Southward and in the Mississippi basin this is the best known of all the Buffalo fishes. It caches a length of three feet and a weight of thirty- ti\e pounds. The only Ontario record I have is that of a specimen in the Fisheries .Museum at Ottawa, said to have been taken in this Province. (iFNlS CARPIOUKS. (C\l .Sl( KKKS.) Body oblong, the dorsal outline more or less arched; ventral outline nearly straight ; depth from one-half to one-third of length ; sides com- pressed ; the back sharp edged ; caudal peduncle short and deep ; head short and deep, its upper surface rounded ; eye moderate, median or anterior; suborbital bones well developed; fontanel present; mouth small, horizontal and inferior; mandible short; lips thin, the upper protractile, narrow, the lower narrow ; lips freely plicate or nearly smooth ; jaws with- out cartilaginous sheath ; muciferous system moderately developed ; oper- cular apparatus well developed, the subopercle broad; isthmus moderate; pharyngeal bones remarkably thin, laterally compressed, with a shallow furrow along the anterior margin on the inside, and another more central on the outline of the enlarged surfaces ; teeth very small, compressed, nearly equally thin along the whole inner edge of the bone, forming a fine, comblike crcit of minute serratures, their cutting edge rising above the inner margin into a prominent point ; gill rakers slender and stiff above, becoming reduced downward ; scales large, about equal over the body ; lateral line well developed, nearly straight ; dorsal fin long, nearly median, somewhat in advance of ventrals, falcate, its anterior rays elevated, often filamentous ; caudal fin well forked, the lobes equal ; anal fin comparatively long and low, few-raye ' trals rather short, usually with ten rays; pectorals short, placed 1 ladder with two (hambcrs. Size medium or rather large. (i-) Drum. Lake Carp. (Carpiodes thompsoni.) Body short and stout, the bark strongly arched. Head short, the snout acutely pointed ; lips thin, white, meeting at a wide angle ; tip of lower jaw much in advance of nostrils; eye small; dorsal about median, its rays considerably elevated, the longest two-thirds .-is long as base of fin. .Scales rather closely imbric-'od, 8-;5g to 41-6. D., 27; A.. 7; v., 10. This fish ranges from the upper St. Lawrence to Lake Huron, and is common in Lake Erie. It is not valued as a food fish, its flesh being coarse and not well flavored. It attains a weight of five or six pounds. 28 CHKCK LIST OF THK Gknus CASTOSTOMl-S. (F.mxSca.eo Sixkehs.) he-.d'loir"'wifh"',loi!.';''H"'''"' '■''""'''^'' '"'"'-""^ •'•"'''■■'•"•'>■ --'"^ P'-'<^"o na row ^f^n^'^T t'7"'= "'' '"'•''"' P'"«" *''«''• ""^orbital be narrow, tontanel present, large; mouth rather large, inferior UDoer thu^k protracfie. pap.llose. lower lip greatly develo'pc-d. with a'brS I n . rg, . usually deeply mrised be!,ind. so that it forms two lobe w mc^ei^trTh" '"■ '^T\"'''''-""'^ "•■'"''»"*' ^<--^-^-uU short: cip^r moderate, pharyngeal b ,nes moderate, their teeth shortish vertl Z L ^l'^ : • r^ .^ ■""^'"'''' ""•' •■'■"^vded anteriorly; lateral line v mle^'he 'idHt"' •''"^^'^''^' ^^'"' ''''•" ^'-''"I^d ^'^vs ; ventrals inser "forked 1 '/"■ """'.""'■ P"""' "^ '^"''''^' ^'"^ "'"«= »'> ten ravs ; cau l.n orked, he lobes nearly equal. In males the fins are higher and i; "n™" 1o? r""""';*-^ 'V"" -^P""^- '''^ ^"■■'^''- with tw^cha rxrs, the posterior large. \ ertel.ra- forty-five to forty-seven. Sinr.EMs C.ATOSTOML'.S. (1 8) Northern Sucker. Long-nosed Sucker. (Catostomus catostomus ) li., loor II ; A., 7 or 8; \-., ,o rcjRTv'" 'h ,4^;^,":^: S"' '^^ '"r """ '"■= *■• ■- .. "e-ilTh-; x;?« vr;!^'' •"""'"'■ ^^■'"■" '-">■ «'"- " -■•'« SiHr.RMs IJEC.\CT\L US. (19) Common Sucker. White Sucker. (Catostomus commersonii ) ■"% ) posteriorly . irbital bone^ ir, upper li[i a broad fre< lobes, whirl rt; opertlt- 1, verticallv imparativel\ al line well to fourteen •als inserted ays; caudal ler, and thi- 1 two cham- , depressef papilla' ; h cro\vden. St. Law- lorth, and s in early it reaches ngr to th< celv over- FISH OK ONTARIO. 3» passing the mouth, which is rather large, with the lips papillose, the upixr with two or three rows of papilla;. Scales small, crowded anteriorly, larger on the sides and below ; dorsal lin situated in middle of length ; ventral opposite dorsal ; anal far back. Scales, 10-64 to -o-t). D., 12; A., 7; v., q. Colour, brownish or olivaceous spring showing a rosy flush. The blotched and marked with blackish above, whiti- below ; the males ir young more brownish, very much A small race of this species occurs in streams which are ' locked by dams or other impediments so as to pre- vent the fish ever running down to the lakes. These fish never grow to a greater length than about five or six inches, nor do they lose the dark markings of the young; yet in that condition they undoubtedly spawn, for the supply is always maintained. This is the most abundant of all the Suckers in Ontario waters, and the most generally distributed. It is found in lakes, rivers and even in land-locked marshes and ponds. It spawns in early spring soon alter the ice goes out, and then forces its way up the flooded streams and through the swiftest rapids to reach the spawning beds. .\t this timi' vast numbers are speared and netted by fish-hungry people in the rural districts, for at this season its flesh is eatable, though coarse and full of bones. Com- mercially it is of very little value, but as it affords f(K)d for Bass, Lake Trout, and all other predaceous and voraceous fishes, it is of considerable economic importance. Its food consists largely of soft -bodied insects and the smaller crus- taceans, and it will readily take worm bait. The largest I have ever seen would weigh from three to four pounds, but they were exceptional; from one and a half to two being about the average size of the spring run of Suckers. suHGEMs hvpi-:\tf:lium. (::o) Hog Sucker. Stone Roller. (Catostomus nigricans.) Body subterete; head flattened on top, the interorbital space concave and the frontal bone short, broad and thick ; eve rather small ; mouth large, lips well developed and strongly papillose ; fins all large, caudal moderately forked ; lateral line fully developed, on median line of body. Scales moderate, equal 7-52-7. D., 11; A., 7; v., 9.' Colour brassy olive, the back with dark cross blotches which disap- pear with age ; lower fins red. .\ large species, sometimes reaching two feet in length. It is found in Lake Erie and is recorded by Messrs. Evermann and Goldsborough from Lake of the V\ oods. ai ClfhX'K l,tST <»K THK CJENXS miMVZOS. ,C„,,. SrvK,HS.) nuKlcrate. infoldt-d. nu-rsX V L .n h ^ ' 'r'''^' P^"'^'""'^. the lo' twenty folds o„ eac'h sic e Llr hr^i.'" """'"':. P'"'"*^ ^''^ '^^-'v^ stronger than usual, and ob iue Jj,' nTh " -nrt.laginous sheath, rat sulK.rbital bones well de3"l not „ . h'"''""' '" '^^'""''^d ; eye modera •>f the cheek below then, or 'V. u I.r ^ "''"■"T'' "'•'" "''= "^'^''y P ru^^ase ; fontanelle rather" r;fr»^i;.ke:Tr:th'"'t"''^"'\''''^^''"P"'- ' weak; the teeth quite small skSerfni ! ""^ ' P'^-'''>"&^--''' ^O' length upward. ea;:h toot h n Vr u^ " ' ' ''*"■;''*• .'■•''P'*">' diminishing '"..rgin of the .uttingTurfrj sc les rTh''*'T'' "'" " '"^P °" '^e inr forward; no lateral line- dors-.r fin ?l J""*^'"' '""'"'^ "^ '^""^ •'•owd .•leven or twelve; pectoral tt m.i" ^e'^nal firh'?"^ ''^i"' ^•'•>-'' -- ess cmarginate or bilobed in aZt m^ ^ ' ^ ? ,-'«^ ""'* *''«'■». -""re 'unate. its lobes subequal. Mrt^-^ui:'^ XS^"'^ '"'''' (.M) Chub Sucker. (Erimyzon sucetta.) _short. rather high placed in midHI. If i^ ^ '"'"'"'' P^f^'^'ile. Dors: '••'teral line. Scales'. 43-, ' ""*''"" °^ ''^"g"^ = ^""dal slightly forked; n ^•; '-^ tois; A.,'7to8. pa.eJtS.'"^''^' '"-^-^^ ''^•'-■= ^-"^ with black bands or bars -.n. -ou?^t^:\rS; ^;;::^s-=;. '^ --- =• -g.h o f-HN, s MIXVTR.-MA. (S..onK» S-ckkks.) pres^dti;i:';-;::S'^r HrS ^-^"f ^••^^Pe^ and rather co.- I'ne interrupted in the adult but Shoerf"'*?/,""'^"''" '" '''^*^ = 'ateral grown specimens, and obsolee in the onn.K "^■''' '"'P'''''^' '" P-''^«'v above; mouth moderate, infe or ioriz2^^^'' '""'''^■■•-'^'^. -•"'thcr bro.-.,! free y protractile ; the Imver r hW Si inV M T^'' "P ^"*=" ^pvcloped. outhne. lower jaw without c rtllaginou; 11 X^' '""•^"'*^''>' ^'-'^'^•-'P^d in h'gh ne.-.rly median; suborbita Ss well H '. ""'. "''"^''■^'^' --ather well developed, not very rough fon°"nellor,hf°P^'^ = opercular bones long; .sthmus moderate; phfryn" , K^tr ^ •T' ^'" '^^'^'^ '"'''ther dorsal fin rather .short and high fn^erted "''T'^^^y "« ''•• Afoxostoma ; -- - W of caudal; peetc^,' ^^rS ^ ^-- ^t^ <. snoj.t FISH OF ONTARIO. »l -■'■■Itl', SOIIK-- -. the lowfi th twelve ti. I'ath, r.ithi-i - moderate . rteshy pan eloped, not igeal bones 'inishiiifj in n the inner ss crowded '>s usually ■t, more or ' fork\.'d or L'cp, com- e- Dorsal orked; no bars anstoma ; )f snout igh and short ; ventrals short, midway between tip of snout and base of i audal ; caudal fm moderately forked, the lobes equal; aii bladder with two cham- bers. Head in males tuberculat•^ in sprinjj. (.«•' '"«. "-..nt „f .audal. Seal.. ! 'T:''* ' ''"''' ^'''^''' ^"''^«»'^. rea.-hinjf Im-v,, Colour silvery, the lower' fins bri^jht r.cl -ith ' ''*• I-awrenrc- t., ;t has become comparatively sca'ce , "2 l"'''"^."''^ **P'''^^i"? '^ason .;-e moves out. the Mullet run up t^ tream/f^^ "^"''^' "' ^^" '''^ '^e through the swiftest torrents "n on^er to T '^ T^^"' ^'"•'^'■'■g their way which the ova are deposited Af^.r •""'""'' "''' ^''•''^^'''y beds, upon While in the streams'they will readilT'^k '"^ ""^/^'"■^^ '" ''^P -•''" fluently attain a weight of four or fiv *"''^^°'-"' bait, and as they fre- the swift waters they frequent' " """'""^^ ^'^^^ '""'^ K"od sport in Fa„„.v CVPRIMO^. (TheCakps.) Cvprinoid fishes with the mnr«;„ t .u maxillaries alone and the lowrSrvnieM T'' '''" '"'"'"'^^ ''>' ^^c pre- form nearly parallel with the g'w arch^"^!!' ' -rJ' '^^^'^'^P*''- f''-' series of teeth in small numbef, Cto ;ev:n ,:?:'• ^''' °"^ *" ^'^^^- to se\cn in the mam row, and a less tail --8 I KISH or ONTUtlO. mimlwr in thr (ithrrs, if more ar< profiit. Ilciul naki'd ; iHKiy sraly in all »uall\ rouiiili-d, rarrly coinprt-ssi'd, nover si-rrati'd. (iil! opi-nin^K nuHliTaU-. tlie inniilirant's broadly joiiu'd to tl)i' isthmus. Krani'hiostcKals always thri-f. (iills four, a slit l)chiiid the fourth. l's<'udo- liranchia- usually prrst-nt. \o adipose lin. Dorsal hn short in all thi- Aiiifrii-an .sjH'rii-s. \'cnlral tins alxlominal. Air hiaddrr usually larjfi--, commonly divided into an anterior and posterior loix-, not inclosed in a liony capsule, rarely wanlin^. Stomach without apfX'nda^es, appearing; as a simple enlargement ot the intestines, l-ishes mostly of mo{ht structural imptirtance. The spring or breeding dres> of the male lishei is often peing a leneth of four u.rbu.".oTr",r;/o^ forndTIn-'iSt'e"™^ Sl^'"'"'" '"""^ Genus SEMOTILIS. (Chuhs. Fai...-k,shes.) wiH.°S^ stout, moderately compressed and elongate; mouth terminal wide the upper jaw protractile; a small barbel jusf abt^ve the end of th; larv'S.'" "°f-' ''"T'^^" ^"""""^ '"« "-bel is at i^^ tip' the max^! lary barbel sometimes absent h youne ; teeth 2 k.a » h~X J vu ^T+Zo";;. "" '"''"' '^•'•"'^ "^"*"'^= "-« °f -"«' short. VeJtebri Subgenus LEUCOSOMUS. (31) Chub. Horned Dace. (Semotilus corporalis.) rn^h-^f^ "moderately deep, elongate, with a stout caudal peduncle- head rather arge; snout pomted; mouth oblique, jaws nearlv eoual X -n extending to below front of eye. The caudalTs larg 'aTdee^: Se^ The lateral line curves downward abruptly over the pectoSrLomrng FISH OF ONTARIO. 37 nedian over the end of that fin. Scales, 7-46-5. A sn-.p.il uarbel on max- illary. D. II., 7; A. II., 7; v., 8; P., 18. Colour, upper parts .steel blue; sides and belly silvery, fins unmarked. in spring the males have the belly and lower fins flushed with deep rose. This is the largest representative of the Minnow t'ibe in our waters, under jfavorable circumstances attaining a length of eighteen inches. It frequents ptreams and mill-ponds, spawns in June, and is most abundant in the eastern part of the Province. This fish is eatable, but its flesh is not Igreatly esteemed. Subgenus SEMOTILUS. (3*) Creek Chub. Horned Dace. (Semotilus atromaculatus.) Body slender and moderately elongate ; head thicker than the body [ and rather short ; eye rather small and placed high. Mouth moderate, I very slightly < blique, the jaws subequal, or the lower slightly included. [Maxillary barbel minute (not evident in the young). The lateral line is (abruptly bent downward over the first half of the pectoral, straight and [nearly median during the rest of its course; caudal moderate and not very [deeply forked. Scales, 9-58-6. D. II., 7; A. V 8; V., 8; P., 15. Colour, bluish brown above; s. • '''.: a distinct dusky band, which [becomes obsolete in the adult. Yol.i^ ecimens have the end of this band more pronounced, forming a black •■• at the base of the caudal. A j small black blotch always present on the front of the base of the dorsal. I Belly whitish. Males in the spring have the belly rose-tinted and coarse I tubercles on the snout. This species sometimes attains a length of twelve inches ; it is very abundant and generally distributed in all the streams of Ontario. As a food fish it does not take high rank, though it affords a great deal of sport for rural school boys. It spawns in early summer on the stony shallows in the streams it frequents. Genus LEUCISCUS. (Dace.) Body oblong, compressed or robust, covered with moderate or small scales; lateral line decurved, complete, or variously imperfect; mouth usually large and terminal, the lips normal, without barbel; teeth mostly 2, 5-4, 2, but somewhat variable, hooked, with rather narrow grinding" surface or none ; anal basis short or more or less elongate ; dorsal fin posterior, usually behind ventrals ; intestinal canal short. Size generally large, some species very small. A very large group, one of the largest current genera in ichthyology, represented by numerous species in North America. CHKCK LIST OF THE Si BOEM s CLINOSTOMUS. Red-8ide(l Shiner. (LwiKU,tlo,„jalu,.) (3.1) Red-sided Shiner. (Leuciscus elongatus.) Caudal large and deeply forked Th» T* ' . , P'^°J«'=t'"& 'o^ver :, over the frLt hi of Z pectoral " ""'^ '^ ^'''"P"^ ^^-^ Genus ABRAMIS. (Bream.) back^narrowu''""*''' '''"."^'y. '^'""P'«««d, both back and belly curve, back narrowly compressed, almost carinated : belly behind vlntroifi SuBGEMTs NOTEMIGONUS. (34) Butterfish. Golden Shiner. (Abramis crysoleucas.) much decurved The dnr^r fin h:!lf If ^ , reaching eye; lateral lin, body Caud:f-forIed.'Ta'let ' ;:3 '^TeS^' -1^"^ k^d "^'T ■''. grinding surface ' ^'■^' "ool^ed and witl D., 8; \., ,3. ^^«p F18H OF ONTARIO. 39 Colour, t-eenish above, sides silvery in the young, with strong golden [reflections in adults; fins yellowish. Length about ten inches. An abundant fish in quiet weedy waters throughout the southern and lentral part of the Province. Its' flesh is «-diblc, but soft and weedy I llavoured. Spawns in early summer. Genus CLIOLA. Form and appearance of Pimephales, the same squammation, fin rays I and plan of colouration, and the first ray of the dorsal similarly separated by the membrane ; the structure of the mouth similar, but with the intes- tinal canal short, shorter than body, the peritoneum pale and the teeth more hooked, as in Notropis. The genus is very near Pimephales, although in its technical characters it approaches nearer to Notropis. (35) Bullhead Minnow. (Cliola vigilax.) Body rather stout, compressed, with deep tail; head heavy, blunt; snout short, decurved ; mouth terminal, slightly oblique; teeth strongly hooked; scales in front of dorsal small, crowded. Scales, 8-42-6. D. I., 8; A., 7. Colour, pale olivaceous with a plumbeous lateral band, always ending in a black spot at base of caudal ; a conspicuous black spot on middle of front of dorsal. Resembles Pimephales notatus, but distinguished by the short intestine, larger mouth, paler colouration, with more definite mark- ings. Length, three inches. Jordan and Evermann record this fish from Detroit. It therefore will probably be found in the waters of southwestern Ontario. Genus NOTROPIS. (Shiners.) Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed; mouth normal, mostly terminal and oblique, sometimes subinferior ; no barbels ; teeth in one or two rows, those of the larger row always 4-4, hooked, sharp edged. or with a narrow grinding surface ; scales large, often closely imbricated, those before the dorsal rarely very small ; lateral line complete or nearly so, usually decurved; dorsal fin inserted above, or more usually behind the ventrals ; anal fin short or moderately long, abdomen rounded, never sharp edged. Colouration more or less silvery, c.'ten brilliant, the males in spring usually with red or white pigment and the head with small tubercles. A very large group of small fishes, specially characteristic of the fresh waters of eastern North America. Subgenus CHRIOPE. (36) Wotropis cayuga. Head four and one-sixth; depth, four and a-half; eye three and a- half; scales, thirty-six. Teeth, 4-4. Lateral line wanting on some scales; CHECK LIST or THE mouth very nmnll, anterior, the maxillary not reaching the eye- i .w. Length, two and a-half inches. (37) Notropit mn>kok«. Colour olivaceous, darker above, very pale below • -. H«ri, k.„j i two-thirds diameter of eye around snout and on sWes t^ bat of caudal head ratf projectin Teeth, 4- sides with (3^) Notropis heterodon. oointed''^hT°?„'"!'''' '*""*• """ •'^'^'^ somewhat elevated; pomted. the snout acummate; mouth oblique, lower j- oScrTate"""^ "''''' "" '"^ '""^'^-'- «-'«• S-.^' duskv°hnnH''"r''T'' "'''" •''"'^'^ = ■"• '^'•''^'*'''h rostral b. „<:; dusky band. Length two and a half inches. Ranges from the St. Lawrence River westward. St'BCENL's ALBURXOPS. (39) Notropis fretensis. FISH OF ONTARIO. 41 (40) Straw-colortd Minnow. (Notropis bitnnius,) BtKlv slender, elongate, its ^Tt-atest dtptli ont-lifth of total without caudal; head rather larRc; eye larRe ; mouth small, inferior /ontal, snout v ery obtuse. Scales, 5 to 6-3 J to 38-4. D. , 8 to 9 ; .\. , Coicur pale, olivaceous; sides usually pale, usually a darker tend and a small dark blotch before dorsal, sometimes a plumbeous stripe, but no caudal spot ; fins all plain. Length about two and inches. Range from the upper St. L-iwrence 'hrough the region of the Lakes. Lake of the \V(»ods (Evermann and Goldsborough). length hori- i to 8. dorsal lateral a half (ireat (41) Notropis volnceliut. Bodv moderately stout. Head depressed, the snout rather long. Fins more elongate than in most related species, the pectorals reaching ventrals. Caudal peduncle slender. D., 8; A., 8; scales, 4-34-3- Colour, olivaceous, a slight dusky lateral shade; no dorsal stripe, fins plain. "Length, two and a-half inches. This species has been found in the Detroit River. I have no othei records from our waters. SuBT.ENts HUDSON I US. (42) Spawn-eater. Smelt. (Notropis hudsonius.) Body moderately elongate, compressed. Head conical, with short, blunt snout ; mouth small, nearly horizontal, the lower jaw very slightly the shorter. The lateral line is slightly curved downward over the pec- toral, straight and median for the rest of its course. Caudal large and deeply forked, its middle rays half as long as the outer. Scales, 7-38-.=; • Teeth, 2, 4-4, 1 or a, with a narrow grinding surface on at least two. D., 8; A., 8 or 9; v., 8; P.. 14. Colour, pale olive, young Jilways with a round black spot at base of caudal; sometimes a dark lateral band; fins unmarked. Length, ten inches. Common and generally distributed in the lakes and larger streams from the upper St. L.nwrence to Lake Superior. The northern form of Lake Superior is N. h. selene. SiBCEMs CVPRINELLA. (43) Silverfin. (Notropis whipplii.) Body moderately elongate, fusiform in the adult. Caudal peduncle short and stout. Head conical, compressed, snout pointed. Mouth mod- 42 CHECK MHT «iF THK orate tfrniiri.il sJii, and moderately fo. toral. Scali s 6.38 Colour, bluish narrow and long bl sixth and scvontd Lower fins pa. > with white pi>{i ,1 in the dorsal ha* ;, ered with niinutt i Length, aboi It is found in ' - oblique, jaws nearly equal. The caudal i. lar. d. The lateral line curve, downward over ,h. ^* / '^h on he membran. „f ,he dor-al Ix-tu..,-,, I ; ' '^ 'ther between the seventh and eighth ray ■' " - ". prmg have the fins partiv or wholly charX ..';.i ... height of the breeSins »ea,.,n .£ pi^^'e ', i;;^' int and the- top 01 the- head and snoui .. rov •'» ' -.les. " ' ' vrence md Grrat I.akes region. >' 111 r ^ (44) ShiMr. Redii- fy ,, (Notropis L< r jh,s., with age and much . mprcs ,f and thin: mouth m.,d.-.ate, term! .L'S. ra ely elongate, f.ut it iM^come.s dcepe. eye moderate; the lateral liie de c. '1 '"''' °'''"«"«' '«^er jaw include,! and median over tfn anal orlt "miJ^^ T.''' '**''^'""'"*f '^'^'Sh ;...s.ytei:'^ f:r ^SS-;;; ;;,a'""e a.ong the bac. . .ale. '■ne. In spring maU-s the bellv ^ toZ^^^sl^r-' ^'"'''^ *'"' •-• «'" and nape covered with small iubercleT I .» *f' "■"''^ ""'' "«= ''«^a«l ■nche.: under favourable circumstlt.s ^rhaps"; 'li m"^'" "' ""«"' -^"" This handsome fish is abund-mt i^ frV'^P'' " ''"''' more. the Prox-ince. particularly « "n ' "h„ "e wh: rrT^iH ' T ''"' ""■-^'"'"• pools and eddies. ^"^"^^ "P'^s alternate with deep AsTf'^' iV?""'^ '""""'■'^ °" '^'ony shallows '^ is u^^^^l^^^ -:^„^: ^- -;.-, .. tasteless, but ■N. c. frontalis is the form comm^v ^ound in ,h. lakes. Subgenus NOTROI'IS. (45) Notropis jejunus. large, oblique. **"' '''""**='' '"'"d rounded ; mouth rather Iar>{r pe( ■ ul i>i r thi «; P., M al line; i 'turfn 111.' ;hth ray- y charK«il B pi If men 1 es dcepi'i ort, deep included ; straight Scales, i ; scales th n gilt the head •ut eight oughout ith deep ess, but ' rather I rather nbeous FISH OF ONTABIO. This species is recorded by Evermann and Goldsborough from Lake tf the Woods and Rainy River. [46) Notropis atherinoides. Head, four and two-thirds ; depth, five and a half ; eye three and a quarter. Body long and slender, compressed, the back not elevated, head blunt, conic, proportionately shorter than in related species. Mouth moderate, very obliqut-, upper lip on level of upper part of pupil ; maxillary iibout reaching front of eye. Eye large, rather longer than snout. Fins low ; dorsal well behind vtntrals ; tips of ventrals extending to beyond niddle of dorsal. Lateral line decurved. D., 8; A., II ; scales, 5-38-3; 15 before dorsal; teeth, 2, 4-4, 2. Colour translucent green above; sides bright silvery; scales above faintly punctate, but not enough so to render them dark-edged, nor to Jform blotches along sides; a faint dark vertebral line; males in spring |with the snout rosy. Length, four to six inches. This species ranges from the St. Lawrence River through the Great iLake region to Manitoba. 1(47) Notropis rubrifrons. Head, four; depth, four and three-quarters; eye, four. Body mod- jerately elongate, the back .scarcely elevated, caudal peduncle somewhat jcontracted. Head longer tlian in most related species, conic and rather Ipointed. Mouth rather large, very obliqin-. upper lip above line of middle I of pupil, maxillary reaching to opposite eye. Eye moderate, anterior, {usually shorter than the .sharp snout. D., 8; A., 10; scales, 5-39-3, tho.se before dorsal larg. , 15 to 1, in [number; teeth, 2, 4-4, 2, little hooked. Colour olivaceous above; scales with darker edges; sides silvery; a I dark vertebral line ; a row ol dark dots along base of anal ; males with the I snout tuberculate in spring ; the forehead, opercular region and base of I dorsal being then flushed with red. Length, two and three-quarters inches. This species is recorded from the St. Lawrence River and Lake of the Woods (Evermann and Goldsborough). Subgenus LYTHURUS. (48) Redfln Minnow. (Notropis umbratilis.) Body compressed, the caudal peduncle long; head long, conical, rather pointed ; mouth large, moderately oblique lower jaw somewhat pro- jfcting; eye moderate; scales closely imbricated, crowded anteriorly; dorsal fin high, inserted about midway between ventrals and anal ; pec- torals not reaching ventrals; caudal long; lateral line much decurved. Scales, 9-40 to 52-3. Teeth, 2, 4-4, 2. D., 7; A., 11. 44 CHECK LIST OF THE Colour dark steel blue above ; pale or silvery below. A more or Ie< evident black spot at base of dorsal in front; the fins otherwise all plai; !1.m' ^T^- u T"]°' *'°"^' '■^S'*'" ^"^ »*'« head profusely covered wit Zltl"'^'f'' \^' •""^ ""^ '''^^^'- fi"* "^'"^ °f » bright bri red in the spring. Females very pale olive, sometimes almost colourless wJ l^'^'Z ''i '"'^"['^^ by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean as ranging fro^ Western New York to Minnesota. It should therefore be found in ,h oroSlv hJ X- "■" ?T'°' ''"' ""' y^' ' •^"^■^ "«* ^^" •*• Our form woul, probably be N. u. lythrurus. Gems RHINICHTHYS. (Black-nosed Dace.) r.„A^^ jr°'^r^^^^I ,^'°"S^'^ ^"'l ""'« compressed, with usually sto., caudal peduncle and long, conical nose; head rather large, sometin,e. ^'Zu.i, ^^'V "^y^ ""^"= """"'b ^'"»"' subinferior, the upper i.n> fixed by the union of the upper lip to the skin of the forehead ; end ol maxillary with small barbel. Teeth, 2, 4-4, 2 (sometimes .. 4-4. ,'). thos r„ JS T"*'"'' , '■"'^ ."'"^">' ^''°^''^' ^''bout grinding surface A short intestinal canal; scales very small; lateral line decurved, continuous; fnhnhf*'"^'? ^^^^""'i'^ ''."'""'* ^^""■^'= base of anal short. .Small fishe. inhabiting clear, cold, brooks and streams. (49) Long-nosed Dace. Niagara Gudgeon. (Rhinichthys cataractae.) Body elongate, subterete; caudal peduncle stout; head moderate; eve rather q^ve median; mouth horizontal, small, placed under the snout, the ower ,aw the shorter; upper lip thick; barbel evident but small; caudal, large and well forked ; scales, ,3-57 to 63-10. Teeth, 2,4-4, -'. three of th principal row hooked. D. II., 7; A. II., 6; V. 8- P V m.nF^'"""'' '^t^^/ °'.?' *''^ ^'"'^ '^^'^^'' be'o^ P«'^.' ^°"i«^ «f the scales mottled irregularly with dark and olivaceous, no black lateral band in the snHn; y, '",^''^.>"°""S: there is a trace of a dusky band. Males in the Sef ''"''' ^"** ''"^^'' '^"'' ^"'"^«"- Length, about five This species is found from the Niagara River to Lake Superior. It IS not uncommon at Saiilt Sir. Marie. <*rt^ ■,4 :"'**««k*ar«)3^s Black-nosed Dare. ( Wimirhlhii* alnmii^iiii. ) (50) Black-nosed Dace. (Rhinichthys atronasus.) Body long, .somewhat stout; head small, conical; eye small; mo. -h small, slightly oblique, with nearly equal jaws; the maxillary barbel sni ,11 FISH OF ONTAHIO 45 or wanting. The dorsal origin is nearer to root of caudal than to tip of snout ; caudal small and not deeply forked. The lateral line curves down over the pectoral, soon becoming median. Scales, 10-56 to 63-10. Teeth, 2, 4-4, 2, three of the principal row strongly hooked. D. II., 6 or 7 ; A. II., 6; V , 8; P., 11. Colour dusky blackish, mottled above, whitish below, a black lateral band, bordered above and below by pale. Spring males have the lateral band and ventral fins crimson or orange. In some adult specimens I have the dark lateral band is entirely wanting. Dr. Philip Cox, of New Bruns- wick, who finds both this and the preceding species in that Province, says : "These two species are with us very closely related and present at all times such instability of characters as to suggest intergrading. " Length, about three inches. Very common in all streams of the Lower Lakes and St. Lawrence- region. In the I'pper Lake region it is represented by R. a. obtusus. C.EMS HVBOPSIS. (HOUNV-HKADS.) Body robust or variously elongate; mouth terminal or inferior, with lips thin or somewhat fleshy, .-i conspicuous barbel always present and terminal on the maxillary ; a second barbel sometimes present on each side; premaxillaries protractile. ' eeth 4-4 or i, 4-4, 1, or o; hooked, the grinding surface narrow or obsolete. Scales usually rather large ; lateral line continuous. Dorsal inserted over, in front of. or slightly behind ventrals; anal basis short. Males usually with nuptial tubercles, and sometimes fl"slii>d with red. .\ large and varied group closely allied to N'otropis, from which it differs chiefly in the presence of the small maxil- larv barbel. SiHGKM s FRIMVSTAX. (51) Spotted Shiner. (Hybopsis disslmilis.) Body long and slender, caud.-il peduncle long and low ; head long, snout obtusely rounded at the point ; projecting beyond thi- small mouth. The i;ill openings are separated by a broad isthmus. Caudal moderately l.'irije .'md deeply forked. Barbels conspicuous. Scales, (1-4.; to 47-S. Teeth, 4-4. hooked and with a short grinding surface. I). II., 8; A. II., '-: v., 7; P., ,s. Colour, above olivaceous, below silvery, the lateral band is dusky, on which are several dark spots ; the band is carried forward through the eye .ind around the snout; fins p;ilc. I.cnufh. about six inches. This species occurs in the Lower Lakes and rivers falling into them. It is probably more abundant in Lake Erie than elsewhere. .") F. 4a CHECK L18T OF THE Slbgenis HVBOPSIS. (5.<) Lake Minnow. (Mybops^is storerianus.) i..-nX:Lr.S'inrr •■'"" "-" '"•'°" ""'"''"' »»'"'^ «» p-- Genus COUKSIUS. (S.?) Lake Chub. (Coiiesius plumbeus.) to below front of orbitl. srS^b,^^^^^ maxillary reaching included. Lateral line hLin^I u-u ^ ''*' ^'^^ •" "^ ^'P' '«*<^'- Ja^^ and^.. of ..d^t-c^^^^^^ Pinin^'tn^ttb.^'::,^ JllS;"^'^^^ ^'^^ ^ P-*-"- '"teral band: fins supeHo^;7;rt^b.v'^3nL''T'■^ 'h-'- ^'^^^- "^"-■^-''-^ »- ^•^'^•■ ward. The Lake .sj^^rt ^^"^^"diSilis':^"^'' ^^''^"■"'■^- ""^'"- Gem s E.XOGLOSSUM. denta'tr'^rs'"b:;if;iL"UXV;t'"^'^\'T'- ^'''^' ^-^^^ '«'-'^- *^- oe ng Close together and completely united, not forming ,. KIS^I (»K OXT.MMO. wide arch as in the minnows generally; upper jaw not protraitile ; plia- rynijeal bones small, the teeth hooked, and without grinding surface, i, 4- 4, I. Scales moderate; lateral line complete. Dorsal origin is nearly over the beginning of the ventral ; anal fin short ; isthmus broad ; gill rakers u rak ; pseudobranchial present, air bladder normal ; alimentary canal short ; peritoneum white. Si/e large. No marked .sexual peculiarities ; ilie males with some black pigment in spring. One of the niost strongly marked genera of Cyprinidw. 1541 Cut-lips. Stone-toter. (Exoglossum maxillingua.) Body rather short, and stout ; caud.-d peduncle short and deep. Snout short and obtusely conical, lower jaw included; eye small, t'audal mod- i-ratcly forked. Scales, 9-54-ft. Teeth, 1, 4-4, 1. 1)., 8; A., 7. C"olour, dusky olivaceous, darker above ; a short and narrow dark bar :il)<>\e the root of pectoral ; young with a dusky b.ir at the caudal base. I'ins dusky, with pale extemities. This fish may l>e readily distinguished by the three-lobed lower jaw, the dentary bones Ijeing clo.sely united and the lower lip represented by a llcshy lobe on each side of the mandible. Length, about six inches. The Stone-toter has not a very wide range; it is found in the .St. Lawrence Ri- er and in Lake Ontario, but docs not .ippear to be abundant. Gem s CVPRIMS. (C\ui-.) Body robust, compressed; mouth moderate, anterior, with four long l)arbels ; snout blunt, rounded ; teeth molar, broad and truncate, i , 1 , \. i, 1, I ; scales large; lateral line continuous; dorsal fin very long, with a stout spine, serrated behind; anal fin short, also with a spine. Large fishes of the fresh waters of .Asia ; introduced into Europe and .\merica :is food fishes. (:,.il Carp. (Introduced.) (Cyprinus carpio.) Body stout, moderately elongate; head comparatively small; mouth moderate, the upper jaw not extending to front of eye; a barbel on the upper lip and another on the angle of the mouth at each side. Caudal -trongly forked. Scales, 5-38-5. D. III., 20; A. ML, 5; V. L, 7; P., 15. Colour, above dusky, the sides and beiow golden olive. There are three varieties of this species, the (Jerman or Scale Carp, the Mirror Carp, and the Leather Carp, the distinction between them being hased upon the scale arrangement. The Leather Carp is nearly without s completely covered with scale- this last being the most abundant form in our waters. No greater mistake was ever made than the introduction of this fisi mto North American waters. In England, where it is well known, i was considered about the most worthless fish they had and one of tli most difficult to get rid of, where once it had become established. Oi some parts of the continent of Europe, however, where good fish an scarce, the Carp was cultivated and fed in ponds with care and probabi' because the people knew no better, it was more appreciated. In thi' country, where fish of the highest quality should be obtainable by ever' one, thc-e is no place for the Carp. De Kay states that it was first introduced into New York waters ir 1H31. In 1870 it was taken to California and in 1877 the I'nited .State Fishery Commissioners imported a considerable number and propagate< them only too successfully. Since then they have spread into all accessibl. waters and have become an unbearable nuisance wherever found, for noi only are they damaging our fisheries, but also by rea.son of their destruc tion of the wild rice beds they are causing the wild fowl to avoid the feed mg grounds to which they formerly resorted during the autumn flight. The food of Carp consists principally of insects and vegetable matter preferably, perhaps, of the seeds, young shoots and tender roots ol aquatic plants; when feeding it constantly grubs up the bottom, thereb\ stirring the mud and keeping the water in such a dirlv condition that noiv of our valuable fish will remain in it. The .spawning season in our waters commences in June and seems 1. last until August. The fish are very prolific, make rapid growth, an.] attain a large size, specimens weighing over twenty pounds having fre- quently been taken in American waters, while in Europe they have beer known to reach ninety pounds. Order APODES. (The Eels.) Teleost fishes with the premaxillaries atrophied or lost, the maxillarivs lateral, and the body anguilliform and destitute of ventral fins The in..-i striking feature is the absence of the premaxillaries, taken in connect!,.,, with the elongate lorm and the little development of the scapular arch which is not attached to the cranium. Other characters not confined t.'i the Apodes are the following : The absence of the svmplectic bone the reduction of the opercular apparatus and of the palatoptervgoid arch' th.- ab.sence of ventral fins, the absence of the mesocoracoid or pra-coracoi,l arch, and the reduction or total absence of the scales. There are 11, spines in the fins, the gill openings are comparatively small, and there aie no pseudobranchia. The vertebra? are in large number and none of then are specially modified. The tail is i.ocercal ; that is, with the caudal v. - tebrs remaining m a straight line to its extremity, as in the embryos , 1 most fi.sh. ■' th scalt'>, f this lish known, it ne of the hed. On I fish are probably In thiN by cvt-ry waters in c' : of the: 1 udal vc - ibrvos ' 1 ■^ FISH OF ONTARIO. « Suborder ENCHELYCEPHALI. The characters of this group are as given afjovc. Family A\(iUILLH).E. (The Tkue Eki.s.) The truo Eels .ire i h;iracterized by their conical head, well de >elopicl optriular apparatus, lateral maxillines, cardiform teeth, distinct tongue, vertical lateral branchial apertures, continuous vertical fins, with the dorsal far from the head, pectorals well developed, scaly skin, and m-arly perfect bram-hial skeleton. The Anguillidie approach more nearly than most of the Kels to the Ivpe of the true fishes. In one respect, however, that of the minute ova and concealed generation, they differ widely from these. Gems .WdUILLA. (Eki s.) Body elong .t.-, subtcrele, compressed posteriorly, covered with embedded scales which are linear in form and placed obliquely, some of them at right angles to others. Lateral line well developed. Head long, conical, moderately pciinted, the rather small eye well forward and over the anglf of the mouth. Teeth small, subequal, in bands on each jaw and a long patch on the vomer. Tongue free at tip. Lips rather full, with a free margin behind, attached by a frenum in front. Lower jaw projecting, dill openings rather small, slit like, about as wide as base of pectorals and partly below them. Nostrils superior, well separated, the anterior with a slight tu'w. Vent close in front of anal. Dorsal inserted at some distance from tiie head, confluent with the anal round the tail. Pectorals well developed. (;0) American Eel. (Anguilla chrysypa.) Body much clong.itcd, round throus;h most of its length, compressed I'fihind; head conical, elongated; snout pointed; lower jaw longer than the upper; gill openings partly below the pe<-toral fins, small and slit-like. Scales imperceptible, deeply cmbcddtd and very irregularly placed. Lateral line very distiml. Colour above olive brown more or less tinged with yellowish, bel.)w grayish to pure white. Length, thirty inches. In t>'.T I'rovircc the Kel is only found in the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario and their tributaries, the Falls of Niagara forming an insur- mountable o')slacle to further progress inland. I'ntil recently the reproduction of the ICel has been involved in mystery, hut the careful investigations of competent ob.servers have resulted in showing that the Eel spawns in salt wator, usually on mud banks off the 80 t'HKfK I.IHT or THK mouths of riviTH, to which they resort in l«te autumn. When the youn, Kels are from two to three imhe, lon^ they as.end the riversin \^JZ2 bers. travelhHK continually until they meet .some ,*.stacle which cann be overcome Processor Haird has estimated -.hat in the summer ^ may see hundreds of ^...gRon loads of young lids at the f,H,t of Xiag r vt;.'.'!;''' hV'7 ""' T^" """ '^"''•"'"R '" "^« «^«hinR waters • \\here the obstruction to their passage permits it. the fish will leave th uater and 'rnvel through wet grass in order to continue their journey. sell ft Vwgh price "" """'• •"'••""'"" •■'"' '" *"*• '"'■'^'^'•"' "^-^ ■-•'«"> Order ISOSPONDYLI. (The IiospondyloM Fiihet , ui.hf"/*"'!i^f*' "''^'■- i'^"*' "'*' ""'•'""'■ ^■•^••««'bra. simple, unmodified, ami without auditory ossicles; .symplectic present; no interclavi.le.s ; ope;cul.,r •TiLr vl" P'''"'^'"*?^''' '^"« -''"P'e nlKUe and below, the lower not fmmT" h '^''^'"•^'"■''«:""' •■•'•'•h :''^">s well developed, forming a bri,l«,. from the hypercoracoid to the Iiypocorac-oid. Bone., of jaws devetopecl, the maxillary broad, alway.s distinct from premaxillarv. and forming S!iri of margin of upper ,aw; no barbel.s. Shoulder girdle well developed an.l ...nnected with the cranium by a bony post-temporal. Gill., fou^a .sli. behind the fourth. Air bladder, if present, with a pneumatic duct. Dorsal ; .ntir 5""*, ^'«»'«"|, '^"e "P'ne^. Ventral fins abdominal, sometimes «..n..ng. Scales usually cycloid, sometimes ctenoid ; occasionally wanting. No developed photophores. Adipose fin present or absent. FA.MII.V HIODONTID.*:. (The Moos-even.) B«jdy oblong much compressed, covered with moderate sized, bril- m!!!!;,'"* ^'I'l'"^ ."* ''^'•'?- ."?•■"' '''■''**^*'' '»«"■»• t*" «"""» blunt. Mouti. t^^H^: ' M T "f.'- '*!" ^^^^ '''^"* '^^"•■•'- Premaxillarics not pro- tractile. Maxillary small, slender, without evident supplemental bone articulated to the end of the pr^maxillary and forming the lateral ma^gl,; of the upper ,aw. Dentition very complete; premaxillary and dentarv bones with small w.de-set cardiform teeth; maxlllarie.s with feeble teeth- :, row of strong teeth around the martrin of the t.-ngue, tho.se in front ver'v n L.in ^ u" L^ '*"T "^ ^^'o-^-set. •""»" teeth: .similar .series on th.- palat.ne.c, .spheno.d and pteryiroids ; sides of lower j,,w fitting within ih. upper .,0 that the dentaries shut again.st the palatines. Eye very laror he adipose eyelid not much developed. Preorbital very narrow. Nostril ^ arge. those of each side close together, separated by a flap. Gill mem- branes not connected, free from the isthmu.,. a fold of skin covering the.r bas... No gular plate. Branchiostegals eight to ten. Gill rakers few the you fit; vast nuiii- L'h canniit nmer oni' f Niagjir.! Waters. ' ' leave tli;' Burncy. py alwa)s ilied, iiiKl opercul.ir ower ncit a bridjjc BveJoped, ling part nped anil ur, a slit . Dorsal >mctitne>< wantini;. ed, bril- . Mouth not prd- al bone, margin dentary teeth ; ':, [)nt vrrv ; vomer ! on the thin Ih' y larcc Nostril . ill mcni- np thcr 'rs few, KISII OK liXTAKMt >li..rt and thi. k. I'sriul.>l>ran<-liii. ohsi.lHi-. I.iiH-ral I'm.- dUtim str.iiK'ht. Hillv nut Mnalwl. IJorxiil tin r.iltu-r iH>Nl»rii>r ; iiiial rlimuali-, luw ; xoiitrals Wi'll (i.'V.I.Mul; < audiil sIroiiKly forked; im> a<>s.> lin. Si.ipi.hIi tiorMsho(-!.hap.d, w ilhoiit blind sar ; on.' \n\inu .;». inii. \ • rlilitii-, alxMii ,ixty. Air t.!addi-r larK.-. \o oviduct*, Ihr i-«^;* illinij miIm th<- .mmIv ..| ihc rdKliMwn Itclorr r».< lu^ion. (iisi •. Ill<)l)(»\. |Miii.\-i M •> I Ihf generii cli:ir.icter« are imtiidvd .-iIm)m . Si iu;FM s IIIODoN. {■^-) MoeiMjre. (Iliodon trrgisus.) UiHly oblong, much romprevsi-d ; Iti. IhIIv wii!. ' -liiflil biii ..hiii ■ k.tl in front of \*ntraN and a rather »harp cdt;. b. IuikI iI ■ in! ' '"'d si t:. Mniiit rouncfc-d; eye largo ; caudal deeply forked I)., ij; A.. iH t.. >'. Colour, back bright ulive KCecii; sides and alwl-'nnn hnil ill\ . r>. l.<-n)^th, twelve inches or a little more. This species ranges from the St. l-awnncc to l.akr Sii|K' ior and i^ partirularly abund.tnt in Lake Kric. It is a very ha»dsoin.' and ■^<»>i\ name li'h, taking bait very readily, but its tlesh is of no value as fcnid. Sih(;kms A.MrHl()lM)N. (sH) Gold-eye. Northern Mooneye. (Hi- -^''^htly V-hind'the oHgfn : the ventral. Its last ray ,.s produced into a long filament. The pectorals and ventrals are n.ther long and each is provided with an ap^daK.- HrJv r r:""" '■'r^"''"; "^•^■■'•'•PPi"^ ""-essory scales. The c^dal is deeply forked. .\nal very long, its l;,st rays low. IV)) Gizzard Shad. (I)orosoma cepedianum.) short" wLt.*'''' •TP'-^''^^'': "^,«' '"•■■''^•'^ thin, deciduous; head small ; snom short, blunt; mand,ble enlarged at base; gill r.-.k.rs xerv slender. nAt verv long; an ad,pose eyehd. Dorsal about median, the filamentous ray nearlv bHir-^nrVrserrat: ■"' "''"'• '"''''''' "- '""'"■ ""'^- "'"«*'^ «'^- "PP«- Colour, upper parts bluish ; sides silvery, sometimes with golden refle, - TII'a '^'JT^ ""■•■'' "^ •? '■■'^R«= d-"-k hlotch on each side not far behin.l the head; th,s disapnears \v,th age. I-enirth. ab.ul fifteen inches; it sometimes .-.tlains a weight of :,bo„t iwo pounds. '' KISH OK ONTARIO. ft3 This fish has worked its way from the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys through the canals to Lake Krie, where in some places it is not imcommon. It is a handsome species, but is of no value for food. Family CLUI'KID.K. (Tiik nKKKi\(;s.) Body oblong, or elongate, more or less compressed, covered with cycloid or pectinated scales. Belly somelinus rounded, sometimes com- pressed, in which case it is often armed with bosterior, rarely wanting. No adipose fin. X'cntrals moderate or small. .Anal usually rather long; caudal fin forked. Vertebra-, forty to fifty-six. (iKMs POMOLOBLS. (Aii-wivis.i Body oblong, more or less compressed ; moutn moderate, terminal, the jaws about equal, or the lower projecting, the upper scarcely notched at tip; teeth feeble, variou.sly placed, probably never wholly absent, man- dibles very deep at base, shutting within the maxill.iries ; gill rakers more or less long and slender, numerous; adipose eyelid present; scales thin, cycloid, detnduous, entire, rounded posteriorly; cheeks with the free part longer than deep; dorsal fin rather short, nearly median, beginning in iidv;mcc of ventrals, its posterior ray not prolonged in a filament ; ventrals present; anal moderate; belly i-ompressed, strongly serr.ited before and l)i'hind vi'ntrals. ''"^° ""^ ^•^^•=" '-"'<'•'' through . an„U Irom the Ohm and Mississippi Valleys, where it is abundant Lnhke most of its tribe, this is a preda.eous lish, feeding lari;. h upcm small fry. It may Im.- readily captured with minnow b^.it, but as a U .kI lish It IS not esteemed. < i «i ("I I Gaspereau. Alewife. (I'omolobus pseudoliarengus.) Body deep .-.nd heavy forward, mu.h . ..mpr.ss.d. 1 1,.,.! short ,„ m,U as deep as long ; eye large, deeper li,an long. .Maxillary broad ; upiH-r ,;,« cmargmate. owcr jaw slightly projecting. .\nal l..w ; caudal deeply fork. ,1. p..rt.ally scaled near I«.se. Scales, 15.50 to 54. D., ,(,; .A., //to ,., tolour, above bluish ; silvery on sides ; a bla. k spot behind head. ( )„ large specimens there are faint dusky lines along the rows of .s.ales. Length, alK,ut ten inches, or rather more; in Lake Ontario, howev.r I hey rarely exceed eight inches in length. This fi.sh is .said to have been introduced into Lake Ontario in ih-- '(•hTh ;.•■ •'••-' •"''"""" ''"^'"^' •^^" '" ■'^•-•'^ "- water w,h sir Whether this is correct or not. the (iaspereau is now (irmly Ts, ,1 h , here, and in spite ,. the vast numbers which die ever^ summe -e .■ .ncreasing. ^^„m early in .March until early inXovem Ix^^ Le to i>e lound near the shores of l..,ke Ontario and in the St I -.wr.., . z:^ monl;;?:;;^^^ " ^-^-^--.^--k juhc'.l' Jui^' a^^v;: d r!;:; ntsc months that the great mortality takes pla.e, millions of de-.d t,sh •u-ing cast up on the shore and the surface of the water be ngitr strewed with the dead and dying. When- .hev go in the cdd montl,: » winter is uncertain, probably only into the deep water of the hkr^h ,,. h ■t is^possible that they may work their way d-^v„ to'the ('"ulf ■:J\s,";:"^.' They are eatable, but being small and bony are not much appre. iai. ,1. Genus ALOSA. (The Shai>.) Body deep, compressed, deeper than in related American genera- th.. head also deep; the free portion of the cheeks deeper than loni a' •uTip' ^oZ ^T'' '" ^"""^''^ "'"'"'■ '^'^^ -'•hT sharp, d^'p'r,, at lip. the premaxillar.es meeting at a very acute angle. Cu) Shad. (Alosa sapidissima.) Body deep; mouth large, with the jaws about equal; gill rakers vc, v ong and slender. In the female the dorsal originates a lUtle n front f the middle of the length, in the male somewhat farther in f "nt V dorsal of the male i.s rather higher than that of the female, wh le tte bo - IS no .so deep Scales ,6.fio ,0 65. The dorsal has thirt;en divided . and four simple, and the anal nineteen divided and three simple I FISH OF OXTAniO. 86 Colour, hluish alxivc; sides ami Ik-I<)\» sihvry ; usu.ill) .1 dark blotch l)ehind opercle and ohrn si-veral in a rt»w behind this ; peritoneum pale. The Shad is an anadromous tish »hirli passi's most l,r (iKM s COKKtiONL'S. (\\iin>:n.sni:s.) Body oblong or elongate, ...nipressed ; head mor.- or less eoni.-.l mnpres^ed. the snout nu.re or less projecting beyond the lou^r j^^ Z^u devL I "■''> "^ '*'",'■'• "'" '-""^^"'""K '"-yond the orbit, with aw. geog^hH'r^n^' Tl '" '" ' r^*^"""^ "'" ''^^" overestimated and ,1... All our spc, ies are highly valued as food and thev nrobablv constitute the most .n,por,ant class commercially of our fresh wafer .ish.' SriM.PM s PROSOPIL'M. Cm) Frost-fish. Round Whiteflsh. (C'oregonus tjuadrilateralis.) lolour. upper parts dark bluish; sides silver'v and IS'W^r in'^r"^"" " ^""""" """"^ '"-" '""- "-" "■"• It sp,wP.. in (>-tober and NovemlKr, visiting the shallow parts „l lakes a>id s.,ndbars for th.it purpose. ' SiiK.hN, s COKKIJOMS. ('>4) Common Whiteflsh. (Coregonus (•lup.-Horniis ) rays; anal, eleven divided rays. ^' ' '*^" '^"■"''''' M. KIHH OK UNTAKIO ft7 Colour, upper purtut twenty inches and the weight about three pounds or a little more. It ranges through the (jreat Lakes region from the St. I.awrenec to Lake .Superior, imd thence westward tr> Alaska: where it is replaced by a closely allied form ; its northern limit is not positively known. .Vlthough this is one of the most abundant and at the same lime the most valuable of our ci mmerrial fish, its habits are not yet fully under- stood ; undoubtedly they Nary very much according to liM-nlity ; the depth of water, cu-rents or their absence, and climatic conditions all having some influence on the movements of the fish in search of food, and upon the time and place of spawning. In some of our lakes there is a move- ment of the Whitefish in early summer from the deep w.-iter into shoal water near th<' shore; towards midsummer they retreat to the deep and cold parts of the lake, where they spend most of their time. In the autumn they again move in towards the shore, seeking their spawning grounds; those are chiefly rocky reefs and shoals, composed of what is known as honeycomb rock. It is said that gravelly and sandy shoals are sometimes resorted to for spawning purposes, but this is doubtful. Spawning takes place in October and November and may possibly be extended by some few iiidividuals, or under exceptional circumstances, in'.ii December; both the time of spawning and of incubation depend larci'ly upon the temperature. The autumn movement commences in September, but does not become general until October ; the fish then continue to run in greater or less numbers until the spawning is ended, when they again retire to deep water for the winter. It is a curious fact that even during the spawning season a large number of Whitefish are always to be found in the deep water, but there is no evidence that they ever spawn there. |'>S) Sault Whitelsh. (Coregonus labradoricus.) Head, five; depth, three and a half to four; eye large. Gill rakers short, about two to two and a half in eye, 10+ 15 or ifi. Body rather elongate, compressed, the b.'ick not elevated. Head r:ither small, slender, compressed. .Mouth rather small, the lower jaw short, snout projecting; the maxillary reaching front of pupil: maxillary MICROCOPY mSOlUTION TfST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2) ^ /APPLIED IM/C3E '653 EasI Mom Street Rochester, New York 14609 USA (716) *82-0300- Phone (716) 288-5989 - Fo. «8 CHECK LIST OF THE bon« broad, rather short, its supplementary piece ovate Alandihle r,...M .ng mjddle of eye. Tongue with about thr'e'^eries o^lall tmh SW " orbital bone narrow. Dorsal fin high in front, the last raysThort '^ L>-, II or 12; A., II or 12; Scales, 10-71 to 76-9. Length, twenty-one inches, able tj^cXeifoTm-r' "'' ^^""^ ""*^°"''« ^^'^-^ indistinguish- northwa"rT"' '""■•'"'^' '" ^°"'' '^'^«'- '^"^ ^^ '^^^ ^'-ams. especially Genus ARGYROSOMUS. (Cisloes.) This genus is very close to Coregonus, from which it differs in .h^ larger mouth and more produced jaws, th; premaxillarie being l^ed cm r'aker^v tn:l?^'°r ^^^ ''-'^^'"y P-Jecting beyond t fiftv-five Th« u^ . ''^"''"■' ''•^"* '^'"'y °" '"^^e-- "'"b; vertebra, Mt>-fixe. These characters are associated with the geater voracity and .n general greater activity of the species of Argyrosfmus. " ' Si'BGENi s ARGYROSOMLS. (66) Cisco. Lake Herring. (Argyrosomus artedi.) Body long, slender, and somewhat compressed; dorsal and ventral outhnes but httle arched; head pointed; mouth larg'e, jaws subequal o the lower somewhat projecting; maxillary long, usual y reaching to ve^ tical of pupil. Caudal peduncle slender, but not much compresTed- dors 1 fin small; adipose fin slender, its width one-half its height D. , 1 1 ; A. , 10 (counting only divided rays in dorsal and anal) • V 10 Colour, above dull bluish green; lower part of ^ides and below silvery white. Dorsal fin sometimes black tipped; caudal dusky at tiprio'l ^nd ventrals pure white. j a nj^, d ana .hnJ*"'" species attains a length of about twelve inches and a weight of exceptional.'" ■ ^''^"' '""'''"'"^ ""''' '^'" '■^^«^'^^''' ^"^ ^^^V «- The Cisco ranges through the Great Lakes generally, but is most abundant in Lake Erie ; it was formerly common in Lake Onlario. OfTte years, however, it has not been taken there in anv quantity. Its spawning season is in November and early December. '•pawning ]ww^ FISH OF ONTARIO. SB (67) Long-jaw Herring. La' e Herring. (.Arg-yrosomus prog' athus.) Body oblong, much compressed, back eic ited, the bod\ tapering rather sharp!" toward the narrow caudal peduncle; the adult havmg a slight nuchal hump as in C. clupciformis ; mouth large and strong ; snout straight, its tip on a level with the lower edge of pupil : mandible very long, projecting beyond upper jaw when the mouth is closed ; reachmg to or beyond posterior edge of the eye ; head rather short, deep and pomted : cranial ridges promnient, dorsal rather high ; origin of dorsal nearer tip of snout than base of caudal. Scales rather large, about seventy-five :n lateral line ; seven or eight above the lateral line ; seven or eight below the lateral line. Lateral line straight except at origin, where it presents a rather marked curve. . . 1 • 1 Colour, sides of body uniformly bright silvery, with pronounced bluish rellection in life; back dusky; under parts pure white, without silvery. Vbove the lateral line the upper and lower edges ot the scales finely punc- tulate with dark, the central part unmarked, producing light longitudinal stripes extending whole length of body. Fins flesh colour or pinkish m life, the dorsal and caudal usually showing dusky edges ; postorbital area with bright golden reflection; iris golden, pupil black. D., 9 or 10; A., 10 to 12. Average length, about fifteen inches. .cur This fish may readily be distinguished from any other white fish found in the Great Lakes by the general form of its body, together with the very long lower jaw. , . „ . , . • 1. It is taken in all the Great Lakes except Lake Erie, from which as yet no specimens have been reported. In Lakes Ontario and Michigan it is particularly abundant, and is highly esteemed as a food fish. There is much difference of opinion among fishermen as to the spawn- ing time of the Long-jaw, which seems to extend over a prolonged period. Fish with matured roe have been taken as early as May 17th, and ripe fish have also been reported from Lakes Ontario and Huron late m June and through July. Very little is positively known as to the location of the spawning grounds of this species, though it is said that they are in deep water. (68) Black-fin Whttefish. (Argyrosomus nigripinnis.) Body stout, fusiform; head and mouth large; lower jaw slightly projecting; back not arched, profile from occiput to origin of dor.sal hn very gently curved ; eye rather large ; teeth very feeble, but appreciable on the maxillaries and tongue. Scales on ikteral line, 77, to 77, above lateral line nine or ten, below seven or eight. m ao CHECK LIST OB' THE fins Sr te-btck. ''""' ''^"'''' '''"'''' ••^"^"y- -''" «'-'< Punctula.ion.s Lake Alirhigan .nd he deeo w-.r/rfr ''7^;.''°'''^'''''' ^PP*-""^"* '" ''^^ BOod"Cth.-' ''"^" °' ^'^'''•^" '" '-'"«-V '-'-^ ■•■"ci is considered .. SuBCENirs ALLOSOMUS. (69) Tullibee. Mongrel Whiteflsh. (Arjfyrosomus tullibee.) .simiiar';?'cut:iTeldtnrallToT"'H ''" '°"'" ^"'^ ^-'-' ""'"-^ peduncle; free margins of thlJo2 , °^ ^- "'^" °" ^'•'"''•'" near he t.p; gill rakers numerous, long and slander '^ ' '""" L»., 10 to 12; A., II or 12. or eilhft^low"'*^"' ""'• '" ^° "^' ^'^"^ - "'■- "-^ ••'•'ove and seven yet limited. esteemed, but its commercial importance is as the ■™on?r:r VVhLrh^'^onlhe ef ''""""^' ""' '^ '^ ^"-^'-- "^vled between th'e WhiJrfitLd^;:'^^?^;;"''''"^''''" '"" '^ '^ ^ ^^^ through Manitoba J !:Si:7is^Z^, '"'' "^ ''' ^^^^^ -'' Canadl; fayf: ''^fs^^WmbtThet^ilfH 'f '^'^^ '''' '^' '•" ^^'-^- shoal waterffeeding hea'l'ir pTumc wirh J' ^J^ ^"'^"""^ "^''""^ ^l^'- Later on they appear to eat StlT'^rno,? '""^ 'J":. """"' "^'^'""-^ °^^'"^-'- Playing untifab^t the ^"^^^^^C^^n^ ttt^^: ations : ^portid to In- :on.sin. er and ered a itlincs lower audai ecies, aight teeth seven ; old more lack. r the h of inds. s as vied ross um- and tern the ies. ; to the FISH OK ONTARIO. »l |ju«incss of priipagation. whit li i> lifii<,lK(l by NdxciiiIkt loth, t hf> prclir ,li;illow water close to the shore, w ith clean hand to spawn on, and during I the day they may be seen in pairs and small schools, pokinj; alonj; the shores, but at night they < ome in thousands and keep up a < onstani loud ! splashing and fluttering, very strange and weird on a lalm night. I wo years ago 1 carefully counted the ova from .1 ripe lish two and a half pounds in weight, and found there were J.l,-oo, closely resetiibling W hitelisii eggs in appearance, but somewhat smaller, .\fter spaw ning the lish are very thin, lank, dull in colour, and quite unfit for human food." (Jkms SAL.MO. (.Smmon \Mi iKdi 1.1 Hody elongate, somewhat compressed; inoulh lar^;e, jaws, palatines and tongue toothed, vomer flitt, its shaft not depressed, a few teelh on the chcNTon of the vomer, behind which is a somewhat irregular single or double series of teeth, which in the migratory forms are usually deciduous with age; scales large or small, one hundred and ten to two hundred in a longitudinal series; dorsal :md anal fins short, usually of ten to twelve rays e.ich ; caudal lin truncate, emarginate or fork-d, its peduncle com- paratively stout; sexual peculiarities variously developed, the males in typical species with the jaws prolonged .and the front teeth enlarged, the lower j.iw being hooked upward at the end and the upper jaw emarginate or perforate. In the Larger and migratory species these peculiarities arr most marked. .Species of moderate or large size, black spotted. -Si iHii-M s .SAL.MO. 170) Atlantic Salmon. (Salmo salar.) Body moderately elongate, symmetrical, not much compressed ; head rather low and comparatively small ; mouth moderate, the maxillary reach- ing just past the eye ; in the young the maxillary is proportionatelv shorter. Scales comparatively large, rather larger posteriorly, silvery 'and well imbricated in the young, becoming emi)cdded in the adult males. Colour : In the adult the upper parts are brownish or grayish, the sides silvery. Numerous x or x x shaped black spots on the upper half nf the body, side of the head and on the fins. .Males in the breeding sea- son have red blotches along the sides. In the young there .ire from ten to twelve dark crossbars mingled with red blotches and black spots. D., 11 diuded rays and 3 rudiments; A., q divided ravs and 3 rudiments. Scales -'3, i.'o, 21. In the early pioneer days the Atlantic Salmon was abundant in the St. L.-iwrence and the Lake Ontario waters as far as Niagara Falls, which formed an insurmountable obstacle to their further progress. They may now, however, be considered as extinct in this Province! The destruction MS CHKCK LIST OK THK of the timber alonjj thf banks «>f the rivers and the consequent polhiiioi of the water having foulud the spawning beds to surh an exit-nt that ih( lish can no longer resort to iheni. An occasional specimen is taken ir Lake Ontario by the fisherman, but these visitors are probably mvrtU wanderers fron. the hatcheries Ix'low. The ranjje of the Salmon in Cati.id! extends from yuebec eastward through the Miritime Provinces, thinu northward along the Atlantic coast to Hudson Strait, and for about on* hundred miles dtjwn the east coast of Hudson Hay. The usual weight of the Atlantic Salmon ranges up to about li>rt\ pounds, but sp«i imcns of sixty or more have iK-eu taken. The grtMtti part of its growth takes place in the ixean, in which the fish spends aboui half its life. In the spring or early summer the at* ilts enter rivers, work ing their way up to shallow w.iter, on a sandy or gravelly bottom. Or this the eggs are deposited in l.ne autumn, the spawning season beginning about the middle of Ootolwr, and it may continue until December, iht eggs are large, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and very numerous, an eight-pound female yielding from five to six thousand eggs and he.iviir fish a proportionately greater number. The hatching period ranges from oi. hundred and forty to two hundred days, depending upon the tempcrii- ture. When newly hatched the fry are about three-fourths of an inch long. At two or three months old and aljout two inches long, they Ijegin to show the vermillion spots and dark cross bands and an then called "parr"; this name ant colouration they retain while they remain n fresh water. In the second or third spring they assume a uni- form bright silvery colour and descend to tne sea, at this stage biint; known as "smelt." .After remaining in salt water for a period varyinjj from a few months to about two years, the fish may return to their n-.a'iw river, either as a "grilse" or "salmon" weighing from two to six pounds. Towards winter they again return to the sea, and from this time forw.ird the migration from the sea to river head waters is performed annuallv. It is generally assumed that salmon take no ( ' whiie in fresh w.iter, yet they certainly rise readily enough to the artific. il lure of the an^'ler, more particularly when fresh run from the sea ; therefore it seems prohabli that in the early part of the season the fish will feed, but that as spawning time approaches they, I'ke some other species, cease to have any desire lor food and devote themselves to the duties of reproduction entirely, for while on the spawning ground and after ihe ova are deposited the salmcn grow lank and thin, losing all their beauty. In this condition they are "kelts" and valueless as food. Slugenl's TRUTTA. (71) Steelhead Salmon. (Salmo gairdneri.) Body elongate, little compres.sed, much like S. salar in form ; c:!ud.il peduncle short; head rather short, maxilla reaching far behind the eye. Kis»| OK (»NTAHtO M K)t' ^inall. Ifctlt rathi-r Kiiiiill; \utneriiu-N in two lonK, allcrniitinK si-ric*, alxmt as Iomk usi the palulini- <(criL-<> ; ^i\\ rakt-rs ■ihurt niul stout ; alKuit twfitty, on the fir^tt arch of wliiuh twi-lvc arc below tho anuli- ; ilors;il orijjiii much ncart-r to tip of Hnout than to liasf of caudal; aili|H>M- I'm Ncr) small anil narrow, over the tN'Kinnintt of thv anal ; caudal I'm nuMlcraicly forked in ihf youn^ ; vt-ntral origin midwi>'' iN-luccn lip of !>nout .md Ikis«- of rniidal. D., ir ; A., 13. ('olour, olixc j{n-cn alKAc, sides siUcry, licad, back, dorsal and caudal tins profusely covered with small black spots, no red Ixtween tlu." rami of the lower jaw. I mention this fish liocause it has iM'cn intriMiuced wiih marked si- (CSS into Lake Superior and Irilnitary waters by the I'nitetl States ' ii Commission, and specimens have Ix-cn taken on our side of the lake, w! •. it is to be hoped it will find a congenial habitat, for it ranks \>>ry hitih ...s » (j'lrne and food fish, attaining under favourable circcmsfances a ueijjht ol about twen' lunds. tiEM s CRIST1M0\|;K. (Ukk Tmoi t.) This genus contains one, or perhaps twi . species, large, coarse Charrs, distinguished from Salvelinus by the presence of a raised crest !H>hind the head of the vomer and free from the shaft ; this crest is armed with teeth. The hyoid teeth constitute a strong cardiform band. The typical species is a large C'harr, spotted with gra) , and found in the larger lakes of eastern North .\merica. (;.<) Lake Trout. Salmon Trout. Gray Tiout. Togue. Tuladi. (t'ristimover namaycush.) Body long; caudal peduncle slender; heat' • ig, its upper surface flattened; eye large, placed near top of head; moL very large, the maxil- lary extending much beyond the eye; the origin o uorsal midway between tip of snout and root of tail; caudi'I fin wcl. forked; adipose fin small; tet'th very strong. U., 9 to II ; A., 9 to '.. Scales, .» ru' :oo on lateral line. The colouration is exti'nu'y variable, gener.illy grayish, sometimes pale and sometimes almost bii.ck, everywhere with rounded pale spots which are often reddish tinged ; on the back and top of the head there are fine vermiculations resembling those of the Brook Trout. The dorsal and caudal with pale spots and dark markings. This species is found in nearly ail the large lakes from New Bruns- wick west to British Columbia and north from '.abrado.- through the Hudson's Bay country to Alaska. It is the largest species of the family resident in fresh water, reaching a length of several feet and a weight of sixty pounds or even more, though specimens exceeding twenty pounds are now rare. 64 CHFX'K I.! ST OK THK The Lake Trout is one of the most rapacious of our fishes and will devour a rnost anything, .hough its principal h>od consists of Herring young Wh.tefish and other soft-finned fishes. It frequents deep wat': and IS usually tal li IS sometimes short and deep ard sometimes long and thin. Head lart;e snout .somewhat obtuse; mouth large; eye large, somewhat above axis of the body; caudal fin slightly lunate in the adult, forked in the voun - adipose fin small and stout. nd will rrinns, waters sonic- I Oclo- es into b nx k c fish. ive no lieavy, great w\v of Lake skin, ;.s are taken ■iuron pal;i- ■ not ; with imall, erato, iduit; laries ■ation •ginal Tie of iters, .aric- k'hicli »rf;e. is of un,'; FISH OF ONTARIO. 66 F> , lo; A., 9. Scales on lateral line, 225 to 235. The colouration is highly variable with age and locality. Upper parts usually grayish, much mottled or barred with dark olive or black without spots ; on the sides numerous pale brownish blotches encircle small scarlet spots. Dorsal and caudal fins mottled with darker ; lower fins dusky with a creamy white band anteriorly followed by a black streak ; belly of the male often more or less red ; sea run fish are often plain bright silvery. Brook Trout were formerly found in all the clear spring streams, and lakes fed by them, throughout the Province, but of late years, owing to the pollution of our waters and excessive fishing, its range is restricted to the unsettled districts, and except where it is artificially propagated and preserved it has ceased to exist in southern Ontario. As a game and food fish it is unexcelled, and angling for it is one of the most fascinating of outd(M)r sports. The jize attained by this fish depends largely upon its habitat and food. In small streams it may mature at a length of six or eight inches and a weight of only a few ounces, while in large bodies of water, with an abundant food supply, they will leach eighteen inches or moro in length and a weight of from six to eight pounds. In Lake Nepi- gon and some of the rivers of that famous district very large fish are still commonly taken. In the cool days of late autumn the Brook Trout run up to the head waters of the streams and there on the gravelly shallows deposit their ova; the sjjawning season extending from September in the north to December m the south. The number of eggs produced depends upon the age and size of the fish. Yearlings (that is, fish in their second year) will produce from fifty to two hundred and fifty ova, while a large fish may produce as many as fifteen hundred. The eggs are about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter and of a warm orange colour. The period of hatch- ing depends upon the temperature of the water, ranging from thirty-two days in water at 54° to one hundred and sixty-five days in water at 37". In the early part of the summer Trout frequent the ripples and shal- lower parts of the streams, but as the temperature rises and hot weathe, sets in they retire to the deeper pools or the vicinity of cold springs, wher» they remain until the return of autumn starts them up stream again. Though commonly called Brook Trout, our fish is really a Charr and is closely allied to, if not identical with, the famous Charr . ' North Britain and the continent of Europe. Order HAPLOMI. (Pike-like Fishes.) Soft-rayed fishes with the mesocoracoid wanting ; the coracoids nor- mally developed, and the post-temporal normally attached to the cranium. Parietal bones separated by the supraoccipital. Symplectic present. Oper- cular bones well developed. Anterior vertebrse unmodified. Scapular arch joined to the cranium by a post-temporal. Hypocoracoid and hyper- coracoid separate with developed actinosts. Pharyngeal bones distinct, tlio superior directed forward, three or four in number, the inferior not CHKCK MST OF THK ale form No .nterdav.cles. Mouth with teeth. Air bladder with a -- "«' - "-" Ontarir It", . f"" .^ ^°""'' '" '"''^*''« P''«=^'' '" Lakes Erie and I?es1n wai for the t^f "' '"""^^' V'"""''' """''' ^"'^ ''«>'^' ^'^^-"^ '' preys h /s saiH^L ^ ^^°8^^vf"<'.°ther living creatures upon which it fl7 A • u ,^^.'' ^a^«"'-able circumstances to attain a length of two hanTalf'thTt'l?' f""' fZ^fl'^y'.''^'''' ' ''-^ ^^ were ne^r mor flesh sims t„r.l K ^ l"^ ^'^ " '" "°' ^^"•'""y appreciated, for iN whichTnves '^ '°" '""""^ ^ ''"^■°"'- °f '•'^ ^«^ds .nmon. SUBGENUS LUCIUS. (7*^) Common Pike. Northern Pike. (Lucius lucius.) prod,td'',t:frs„'d"a; S„* „::!'"'"■'","""•'' "'■'' '-s- »'"■ -" FISH OK UNTAltUt tU) eumstances it attains a large size, specinien> of more than forty ; lunds weight having frequently been captured in Europe. In Canada i. does not grow so large, though in Manitoba, where it is commonly known ns "jackfish. " Fish of twenty pounds were not very uncommon a few years ago. In Ontario it is so constantly pursued that it does not now get a chance to attain its full dimensions, and Pike of over ten pounds' weight nre becoming rare. Spawning takes place in early spring, us soon as the ice breaks up ; the fish running up on to rush beds or grassy shallows for that purpose. The females are very prolific, one weighing thirty-two pounds was esti- m.ited by the late Professor Buckland to contain 595,000 ova. Many anglers profess to look upon the Pike "with mntempt and treat its claim to be considered a game fish with derision. This is because it is usually taken by them in the summer months, when it is not in good con- dition. It is then soft in flesh and weedy in flavour, but in the autumn, after the weeds have died down, it is a different fish; then its flesh is firm and good and its fighting powers will tax the ar-ler's skill to the utmost. SuBGEMs M.XSC.M.ONCUS. (77) Mascalonge. Lunge. (Lucius masquinongy.) Body elongate, though stout; caudal pedun.le short and slender. Head large; eye nearly in the middle of length of head. Mourh very large, the maxilla extending to below the hind margin of the eye. The teeth are as in the Pike, but even more formidable. Dorsal and arial fins far back. Caudal deeply forked. D., 17; A., 15 to 16. Scales on lateral line, 150; cheek and opercle scaled above, but both naked on their lower half. Colour, dark grey, greenish or brownish, always darker on the back, lighter on the sides. Belly wiiite or whitish. The fins usually have dusky spots or blotches, the lower fins and caudal are sometimes reddish. The body markings vary a great deal. In the young the upper half of the bodv IS covered with small round black spots, which usually change their shape or disappear as the fish grow older. In mature fisfi the spots are more diffuse, sometitnes enlarging to an inch or .-nore in diameter, or by coales- cing, form vertical broad bands, while in others there are no distinct dark markings. All these various markings are found in fish from the same Iwality. The majority of Lunge in our waters are either unmarked or show faint bars, the spotted form being the most uncommon. The distribution of Mascalonge in our waters is somewhat irregular. It IS found in the St. Lawrence about the Thousand Islands, in the waters Df the Trent Valley, Lake Scugog, Lake Simcoc, and many of our inland lakes, but I have no record of its occurrence in anv of the Great Lakes 70 CHECK M8T nv THK except Lake Eric and the (ieorgian Bay. where it in quite c.)mni..n. I northern range is not yet clearly defined, but does not probably extin iMiyond the height of land. Spawning takes place early in spring, soon after the iie goes out i shallow water about the reed beds. Here the females deposit a larx number of eggs, from which the fry hatch in from fifteen to thirty dav according to temperature. The "Lunge" is, except at pairing time, a solitary tish, usually lyin concealed among aquatic plants at the sides of channels, or in open la'kr. Ijcneath shelving nnks, from whence it darts upon every living thiiii unfortunate enough to come within its reach and small enough to Ix-roni Its prey. When taken in the autumn, at which time it is in high condition, it flesh is firm, flaky and of good flavour, and its fighting qualities at th. i very best. In summer it affords comparatively little spi/f, in various s ranKinj; :lepressi(l erent and w im|X'i. the lower prcmaxil- 1 incisor- thc jaws ar tei'tli ; he third, ters \orv . Dor>.i'l fie spine, 5 abdoiii- Stomai li want in l;. it in the ith mod- serie; ^ nf KINII OK ONTAKIO. 71 piint.-d teeth, utunlly forininK ii narrow banil, (H>nt» nf thi- nmnilibli- l.riuly united; mi%\vs nuMlfr;il<- ; ({ill opt-ninK not rrstritted iiliovr, the oixrile with its marKi*^ not ndnatc to ,d; air bladder present; tixes differini; in eolour, si,e and devrlopm<>nt of the fins, tl»e anal fin in Ihf male normal ; intestinal i anj.l short ; (irM superior pharyngeal withoni teeth, «».'.!oiid .vith teelh, third and loiirth e(H>ssified, with teeth. Sp«t ies very n'-meroiis, mostly Ameriean, inhabiting fresh waters .md .iriK^ of ■he »ca. They are o\iparoi's. SriMiEMs lOMlM S. KillitiHh. I h'liiiiiiiliiii iliiiiihtitiii») (78) KUlillib. Fresh-watir KUIy. (Fundtilus diaphanus.) Hody rather slender; head Hat above; mouth very protractile, small. Its width somewhat (greater fh.in the lenjrth of tli. lower jaw. i-'ins low , the dorsal midway between the tip of the snout and t • root of the caudal. The anal is wholly under the dorsal. Caudal lar^c, convex behind. D., 14; .\., 12. Scales on lateral line, 46. The females are olivaceous, sides silvery, .vith tifieen to twinty-ti\e narrow dark crossbands ; fins pale. In the breeding season the males are hIIm- with alwHit twenty pearly while cross bars. Abundant in bays and ^: >llow inlets near the lakes; usually found quit.; close to the shore line, associated in small shoals. A f.iirlv jjood hait fish, thouRh not as attractive as the bright shiners and chub. ' This species attains a length of about four inches. Order HEMIBRANCHII. (The Half-gills.) Interclavicles developed. Cills pectinate. Post-temporal simple, not furcate; supr.-jclavicle quite small. Superior pharyngeal bones reduced in S F. TI CHECK LIST OF THE numl)cT, the bones of the gill arches also reduced except in Gasterosteida- infenor pharyngeals present, not united. Ventral fins abdominal or sub! abdominal, joined to the interclavicle, or else detached from it throuKh partial atrophy of the shoulder girdle. Mouth bounded above by premax- illaries only ; shoulder girdle simple in structure. Basis of cranium simple and without tube; four anterior vertebra- more or less elongate; snout usually more or less produced, the small mouth at its end Family GA.STEROSTEID/Ji. (The Sticklebacks.) Body more or less fusiform, somewhat compressed, tapering behind to a slender caudal peduncle. Head moderate, the anterior part not greativ produced but all the bones of the suspensory apparatus somewhaf K„.- thened. Mouth moderate, with the cleft oblique, the lower jaw prominent • maxillary bent at right angles and overlapping the premaxillary at corn..; ol mouth. Teeth sharp, even, in a narrow band in each jaw; no teeth .,n vomer or palatines; premaxillaries protractile. Preorbital rather bro;.d- suborbital plate large, often covering the anterior part of the cheeks, form- ing a connection with the preopercle. Branchiostegals three. Gill mem- brancs broadly joined, free from the isthmus, or not; gill rakers moderate or rather long. Operdes unarmed. Skin naked or with vertically oblons bony plates; no true scales. Dorsal fin preceded by two or more free spines; anal similar to soft dorsal, with a sl„.jle spine; ventral fins sub- abdominal, consisting of a stout spine and one or two r .dimentary ravs. Middle or sides of belly shielded ',y the pubic bones. Pectorals ratlu-r tZJPT^^^' '"■ !f '''•"u ":^ «'" "P""'"S:. preceded by a quadrate nak.d area which is covered with shining .kin. Caudal fin narrow, usuallv lun- ate. .Air bladder simple; a few pyloric c*ca. Vertebrae, thirty to thirlv- five; anterior vertebra little enlarged. Small fishes inhabiting the fr. ^h waters and arms of the sea, noted for their pugnacity. fisheJ''*'^ '"^^ exceedingly destructive of the spawn and fry of h,r>,rer Most of the Sticklebacks build elaborate nests, which the male fish entiv t.^'i V 7 . Tu'- ?*= ■"'"':"'' ''' '""'''""^'y -"•'»'''-■ being app... entlv readily affected by changes in surroundings. Genus EUC-VLIA. (Brook Sticklebacks.) Fresh-water Sticklebacks, feebly armed .the skin not mailed, the dors.,1 TrT Ir-Tu'^ nondivergent; the gill membranes forming L free fold acro.ss the isthmus; pubic bones fully united. One species known FISH OK O.NTAHK). (r9) Brook Stickleback. (Eucalia incon.stans. ) Body elongated rather stout; the caudal peduncle without keel; skin entirely smooth. The ventral spines and pubic bones are ^ery small, the Litter concealed under the skin. The thoracic pnx^esses covered by the skin slender and widely separated. Dorsal spines short, nearly equal in length, placed in a straight line, the anterior spines shortest. Ventral spines small and serrated. I). MI. to IV.. I.. ,o; ..\. I., lo. Males in the breeding .season jet black, tinged with coppery red The females and young are greenish, variegated with darker. Common in small streams and ponds, where it secretes itself among «atcr plants, re.idy at any moment to attack anv small fish which appro.iches Us lair, or to dart upon passing insects small enough to become Its prey. This species is a nest builder and is particularly vigorous in the delence of its eggs or young. It grows to a length of two and a-half inches. Ckms PVGO.STKIS. (.MxNv-s..,M.:,. .S, ,, ki.kiucks.) This genus is characterized by the presence of nine to eleven divergent spines and by the weakness of its innominate bones. As in Eucalia, the gill membr.mes form a broad fold across the isthmus. Ten-8pined SticklebHck. ( l'ii behmd and between the ventral fins, forming a triangular ,„ usu"lh k '. '?• r " "'^""■;'""^ """^'^ '° "^'^ isthmus ;'tail slender a.;;) usually k.Jed. skm variously covered with bony plates; dorsal spin., strong w.th nondtvergen, bases. Species numerous and highly varial". those found m the sea usually with the body completely r d the re h and brackish water forms variously mailed, or even alto^ ..r n ke i T\M)-s[)iiieil Stiiklel)ack. ( - P'"'^ '" -hich the spine i hinged su h a way tha U may be hxed and immovable at the will of the fish ! " pelv c bone low. Length in our waters .ibout three inches. Rath;-r common in spring in the streams and inlets of Lake Ontario l.nt I have not found it elsewhere. Its centre of abundance in .America is .^N.ng the North Atlantic coast, where it is found in all the streams from N-••'»-• ■■•-'ther firm adho : ent the.r edges strongly ctenoid. Lateral line continuouc |,„r,a X medmn with two spines, slender or stout ; ventrals ante,,.., just in fr m of the dorsal, w.th one rudimentary spine and about eight rays; pect S narrow, placed rather high; anal small, with one or two sph.;s'^ c orked; adipose fin present, small. Vertebra about thirty-five" Fi rwit7trtr^''f""''''''K"'''^''"* *^^*''= '''^'^°"'^- ^'^'^'•- -•^'-'th scp ! .Wn H k!. .^•^"'■'"P^:'* Py''"-"-- <^*ca. Ova unusuallv largc^ not alli-i,- hnnd nf ''^'^'"^'"''^ ^'^'y ^^"^^ exclusion. Air bladder pre. ent, with . Sm-fll fish"""r.rV'T"" '''^'"^ '" ='PP'>'-«^"t'y ^^'ith a rudimenta y du... is nnl f • , • ^""""^ '' •'***^" "f '^^ ^*'°'«'- P"^*" »f •^'"«^"^"- This gn.up ers the r"; '"'Tt' r '!.-'"'''--^ -ith ordinary salmonoid .h^.r. ' ters. the structure of the head and mouth of a Percoid. Hem s PERCOP.SIS. (Troit Pehches.) fin vH^h-f "*'!"' f '"*''•''• P*'"""'*' '^"^•"'^^ ^'t'' '•ather thin scales; dor..-,! fin with wo slender spmes or simple rays; anal with one; scales roughest postenorly; lateral Ime developed; preopercle entire or very nearly so fSj) Trout Perch. Sand Roller. (Percopsis guttaius.) Body rather long, moderately compressed covered with thin ctenoid Tl. J T T '■T '"?'' '''**'""* ^""'^^^'^ S'" openings wide; open !, s 2" developed; g,ll rakers short, tubercular; skull highly cavernons; rnouth small, the margm of the upper jaw formed by the short non-p o- tract.le mtermaxillanes ; no supplemental maxillary bone; small villif. vm KISH OK O.VTAHIO, teeth on the intermaxillarics and mandible. Tongue short, not free at lip. .Six branchiostegals. Lateral line continuous. The first dorsal over middle of body. Adipose fin small ; caudal long, forked ; pectorals narrow, placed high. The .stom.ich is siphonal, with numerous pyloric cieca. The eggs are moderately large and are excluded through an oviduct. .Mr bladder present. Lower jaw included. IX, n ; A., 8. .Scales on lateral line, 47 to 50. Colour, upper parts pale olivaceous or brown, marked with rounded dark spots, made up of minute dots ; a silvery median stripe, becoming nbsolete in front; peritoneum silvery. Attains a length of alx>ut eight inches. I have not found this fish common anywhere in Ontario, though it ranges all through the Crcat Lakes and their tributaries north to Hudson Bay. It is perhaps more abundant in the Moira River, near Belleville, than elsewhere In our Province, and is said to be frequently taken in the clear cold waters of Lake Superior. It is too small to be of much value to anglers, though it takes liait readily and is used for food by those who care for such small game. To the naturalist it is interesting, combining as it does the characteristics of the .Salmon and some of the Perches. It spawns in the spring, running up the streams for that purpose. Suborder XENARCHI. (The Pirate Perches.) Structure of mouth and skeleton, so far as known, essentially that of the Percoid fishes. Dorsal fin single, with a few sm.ill spines; venlrals thoracic, with a small spine, and more than five soft rays. .Air bladd'T l.irge and adherent. Intestinal canal ending at the throat in the adult, the vent variously posterior in the young. X'ertebr.c, twenty-nine. Kamii.v APHRKDODERID.'E. (Pirate Perciiks.) Body oblong, cicvatod at the base of the dors.il, compressed behind; the head thick and depressed; the profile concave. Caudal peduncle thick ; mouth moderate, somewhat oblique, the lower j;iw projecting; maxillary reaching to anterior border of the eye. Teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer, palatines and pterygoids. Prcmaxillaries not protr.ictile ; m.ixil- laries small, without evident supplemental bonj. Preopercle and pre- ()rl)ital with their fr e edges sharply serrate; opercle with a spine. Bones of skull somewhat cavernous. Sides of the head scah . Lower pharvn- ge:ils narrow, separate, with villiform teeth. Cill membranes slii;hllv 78 THECK LIST OK THK oined to tlu; isthmus anteriorly. Gill rakers tubercle-like, denta.. Ln n?hf ^I""/' ''"^"^Z ^'"'' ^""'■' " "^^^ ■"«' behind the four.h' I ..nch,o.stesaLs s.x. Scales moderate, .strongly ctenoid, adherent. Lat.,.1 u_ .mptTlec. or uantrnj,. \ ent alw..y.s anterior, its position varyl,,!' .ercl'fi; [r TJ ^l'"^ thV-e"!^"' R"^ i" the young to below the pr ' .ptrcle m the adult. Dorsal fin single, median, high, with but three „r tour spuu-s. wh.ch arc rapidly graduated, the first b^ing very short. A, s,nall. w,th two slender spines; ventral fins ihoracic.lith^a very sh., >|..ne tu. number o soft rays usually seven; caudal fin rounded behin.l. A.r bladder simple, large, adherent to thf walls of the abdomen. Pylori, ca-ca, about twelve. ':"•>•> Genus APHREDODERUS. (Pirate Perches.) The characters of the genus are included above. (S?) Pirate Perch. (Aphredoderus sayanus.) Srnl.'!''*^.^' "'.^''^'■^I^'y ,«*«"*. Oblong, somewhat comr-essed posteriorly midHI fT: °r^' fi" continuous, its origin much in advance of tl e I i o th ri'*"r*^ '"'''"''' 'P'''''' '""'^h the shortest. Mo.,,1 ."go for the s.ze of the fish, the lower jaw somewhat longer than he u.th Mil form bands of teeth. Lateral line wanting. Caud.-Il ro.mded. I>. HI., II ; A. II., 6. Scales on lateral line, 48 to 58. ,..:.., ^"'°"''' "'''"■l-'b'''' sometimes olivaceous, at other times dark bro^,n n """;^''«"';.dark punctulations; a dark bar at the base of the caudal followed by a light one. It reaches about four inches in length nrJr T ," '^^"^"' "'°"^'' '^"^ ^"^ "° O"*'-""!" "-^COrds of h. th \W ^^7w '°T^- u' '''°"''"' '"'''^'"''' b*- found in the strean,s s ui^ish ?r 1 '"'' ".' *''.'" ^'''''''' •^"'^ "f Lake Erie. It frequents r3k hi h""' ""''. P""*^. • '" "^^'"^ •'•^■"'''''^ '^'^'^' •-'bound, and is rtm.,rkdble because the position of the vent varies with age. In the young It IS behind the venir.-.ls. while in the adult it is in the throat Suborder PERCESOCES. Ventral fins abdominal, each of one spine and five rays; brancluai brinchihi'a ThT"' ''' ""T ■-"' P"-^^*^"* '^''-P* ^^e fourth ."^r;,;, braKhihyal. Third superior pharyngeal much enlarged; lower phar^n- fl e unne ; ''''' ?"?''• '''''"''''' '^'^^'«»^''' ='b«ut on a level .hh the upper posterior angle of operculum; spinous dorsal usually present FISH OF ONTAKK) :•• Family ATHERINII)/E. (Tin; Sii.\ kksides.) Body rather elongate, somewhat compressed, covered with scales of moderate or small size, which are usually, but not always, cycloid. No lateral line; some scales often with rudimentary mucous tubes. Cleft of ilie mouth moderate. Teeth small, on jaws and sometimes on vomer and palatines, rarely wanting. Premaxiilaries protractile or not. Opercular l)i>nfs without spines or serrature. tiill openings wide, the gill membranes not connected, free from the isthmus ; gills four, a slit l)chind the fourth. I'seudobranchia; present ; gil! raiccrs usually long and slender. Branchio- stcgals five or six. Dorsal fins two, well separated ; the first of three to tight slender flexible spines, the second of soft rays ; anal with a weak spine, similar to the soft dorsal, but usually larger; ventrals small, abdom- inal, not far back, of one small spine and five soft rays; pectorals moderate, InstTtcd high. Air bladder present. No pyloric cieca. X'ertebric numer- ous, usually about 2.^ + ^3 =-46; third and fourth superior pharyngeals ccMiossified with teeth. All the species have a silvery band along the sidi' ; this is sometimes underlaid by black pigment. Genus LABIDESTHKS. Jaws prolonged, both of which are produced into a short depressed licak. The scales are small, their edges entire. (H4) Silversides. Skipjack. (Labidejihes sicculus.) Body very slender, elongate. Caudal deeply forked. D. IV. I., 11; A. I., 23. Scales on lateral line, 75, Colour, green, the fish in life translucent, upper parts dotted. A very distinct silvery lateral band edged above with lead colour ; cheeks silvrry. Length, about four inches. This species is found in Lake Ontario, L.ikc Krie, and the Detroit River, and may be generally distributed throughout the Croat Lake region. \- food fish for larger species it is important. Okoip PERCOIDEA. (The Pi kc ii-iike Frsin-s.) A group of fishes of diverse habits and forms, but on the whole repre- senting better than any other the typi<-al Acanthopterygian fish. The Kroup is incapable of concise definition, or in general, of any definition at all ; still most of its members are definitely related to each other, and bear in one way or another a resemblance to the typical form, the Perch, or piore strictly to its marine relatives, the Sea Bass or Serranidae. The following analysis gives most of the common characters of the group : 80 CHKCK ..IhT OF THE n«, 'J"''>; "■*"••'"> ."''•""«. ^^^ovcred with scales, which arc typically ctt-n..!,! not sn,o,,th or spinous, and of mocU-rate size. Lateral lincMvoic-.l v n an3 : h ater.rl:;;'"thT";'r "'•''^' l'""'" -'--. "-a"y termia ana witn lateral cleft, the teeth various, but typ tally pointed irrm.., ,i m bands on the jaws, vomer, and palatine bones gill rLer isually 4 ^ T^U ' "T'' •T"' ''''''• '"«'^'- P'^-'^vngeal Lost always ™^^^ usually armed with rardiform teeth; third upper pharyngeal mX-S^ he ."hmu ..^'r' '"n" "'" '"'^'"'' "^*= ^""^"^ = >?'" -"^'"^branes free fro,,, t pi a I wdr T '"k""""^" ."'"^ ^•"^■*' ""''^^= P-udobran. hi:, lypi.aiiy well cle\eIoped. Branrhiostegals few. usually six or «.vpn V bony stjiy connecting the suborbital c'hain to\he pi'op'c o'n uhr' hones a I well developed, normal in position, the preopTrcle typicSu ' rate. No cranial spmes. Dorsal fm , ariously devLlopid. but alw, " w I, short in moT"' T^ "^"''''' ''''^ P^'""^ appendages, the inUs, . tTJ r V''*""^"' ""^ '" "^'^ herbivorous forms. \>rtebral column n r^^' ■rf^'^'u' """ P""^^ '^''^P""' '''f"^*^^'-- attnched to the skulf t. . not coossified with it; none of the epipJeural bones attached to the cen of the vertebra.; coracoids normal; the hypenoracoid always \^th nTrt?.ll T"r • T ^''"•'' ''°"^'' °^ "^'^ P^'^'"^^' (actinosts o pterVg L: normally developed, three or four in number, hour-glass shined loni rt"iie''";:^.;roTth''''"- it^:^^' "^^^^^ "^ the^mouthru'ii ;*;;: ir.iciiii , Dones ol the mandible distinc*. ' Fam.i.v CE\TR.\RCHID/E. (The Sinfishes.) each other and the pseudobranchia' imperfect. Head compressed MomiI, rs; s^-. .Si,sj-™ -3j;i,r -^ !»„„ ,„ .he l.rBc.m„u,ted form,, .,„™„i™, minuic or ob,ol«rrr, ,™, . suborbital narrow: the maxillary not slipping under its edge No;,'il-! KISH OF OXTAHIO. HI two on each side. Gills four, a slit behind the fourth. l*>-.eudobranchiii' small, almost (glandular, nearly or quite covered by skin, (iill membranes st'parate, free from the isthmus. Kmnehioste^fals six, rarely seven, (iill rakers variously formed, armed with small teeth, lower pharyngeal \nmc% separate, their teeth conic or sometimes paved. Clieeks and operclcs scaly ; tH)dy fully scaled, the scales usually stronj;ly ctenoid, rarely cycloid; lateral line present, usually complete. Dorsal tins confluent, the spines six to thirteen in number (usually ten), depressible in a shallow gr(K)ve; anal spines three to nine. Intestinal canal short. Pyloric ca-ca five to ten. N'ertebne, twenty-ei^ht to thirly-tive. KntopteryKoid present. Pre- caudal or abdominal vertebne with trans' se pnx-esses from the third or fourth to the last ; ribs nil but the last two to four, sessile, inserted on the centrum behind the transverse processes. Kronta's with a pair of larjfe muciferous channels which converf{e posteriorly or are confluent with a transverse channel connecting the post frontals, their posterior openings close together on the median line in front of the supratx-cipital crest. Colouration usually brilli:mt. Sexes similar ; changes with age often great. Fresh water fishes of North .\merica ; forming one of the most characteristic features of our fish f.tuna. Most of the spe<'ies build nests which they defend with much courage. All are carnivorous, voracious and gamy. All are valued as food, their importance being in direct proportion to the size which thev attain. Gems POMOXIS. (Ghass Bass.) Hody more or less elongate, strongly compressed, the snout project- ing ; mouth large, oblique ; maxillary broad, with a well developed supple- mental bone ; teeth on vomer, palatines, entopterygoids and tongue ; lower pharyngeals narrow, with sharp teeth ; gill rakers long and slender, num- irous ; opercle cmarginate ; preopercle and preorbital finely serr;ited ; scales large, feebly ctenoid; fins large, the anal larger than dorsal, of six spines and about .seventeen rays; dorsal with six to eight graduated spines, the spinous dorsal shorter than the soft part ; caudal fin cmarginate ; pectorals rounded or obtusely pointed, with fifteen or sixteen rays, the upper long- est; ventrals close together, each with a strong spine; branchiostegals seven ; lateral line complete, the tubes straight and extending at least on the anterior half of the exposed surface of the scale; posterior prm'esses of the premaxillaries not extending to the frontals ; supraoccipital and parietal crest very strong, produced forward on the frontals to between the orbits; vertebrae, 18+15 = 33. IH5) Crappie. Silver Bass. (Pomoxis annularis.) Body oblong, but more elongated th.nn the next, the depth two-fifths of the total length ; much compres.sed. Mouth oblique, larger than in the rilKCK LIST OK TIIK !>• \I., I'.; v. \ I.. ... sralfs, ;.4,.,.v lolour. .U..,r siU.ry olive.. ,1,.. sidrs .noirle.l will, ,l;.rk irro, ni.h lloulu.s: .... tlu. upp..r par, ... ,|... l,,„ly aro ,ra. cs ,.| narrow u-rti.- , , 1 u- .lorsal an. .au.al .ins ar. n.o.,lc.,l. but tlv a..al is usuaiy , , A..a.„s a I..n,Mh o. about twclv. inches and a wciKh, .,f „n.. .J.u,?,! ' I h.s sp... .es ranjj.s Iron, th.- (ir.-at Lak.s southwanl. I, .« . urs rar. K " l.ak.- l-.r... and possibly .,lso in l.ako Ontario. In apmaran. , • pHrbiHnrS;;:;!^ '" ^•'^ '--'' '-' '- - > ''- 1.1 .ts habits it .•los..|y n-sen,bl..s th,- n.-xt and more- familiar sp... i, s. («<>) Speckled Bau Calico Bass. (I'onioxis sparoidfs. ) out thel^ip'h.!"^' ;"'"P'-''^'"''.- ;'^ d'--P'h about one-half the length with- h n in ihe C lie"!""'""' fi^' '"'«•'• """•" '"^ "''"''- ="«' -''"- i> in 'PP"^' '^' P''"*^''^' comparatively even; Hns very high ■ • .!-^= ^- .V- T •" '«• Scales on iatiral lim-, 4, to 4. (..lour, s, Ivfry oh^e mottled with clear olive greer . the da k m„l S^^trth^Xk '7«"'^'^"rf"^^ ='"^ cov^ing'the wtlle bo '; m.rL 1 IL V"'.*''"^'', "''^'-* reticulalions, surrounding pale spots- unl p:.::i r ;ath:r more: '■"'"" "' '*■" -^ '^'■'^•^ '"^-'^^-^ "-• •■' -'''"^' -^ bee to Lake Huron. It Irequents ponds, lagoons and sluecish streams wSw thVi •''" r'"""''"'^'^ "' •'^""'''^ ^'=«''"-". uncle; 'li J It; own" in th ''' '• ""^'••"^'^■''"'^ ■■'"d ■^'"•-'" fi> ; mill rir- Drif 11 >, in It in riNII nV ONTARIO. Il fccd« priniipally to-nrd« f\i-ninK. and Ihc »h->I bull for it is a bright, lively xhiner or c' uO. (iKSi'n AMBLori.lTKS. (R.kk U.\hs.) Hody ubIonK, moduralcly clevutiHl, < ompri-!«K<*() ; muuth l«r|{»', the Itriwd maxillary with a well developed ^upplemcrtal Ixme, lower jaw pro. jtK:ling; teeth on vomer, palatineN, tongue, entopu-rvKoidK and ertupterv- Kcmls. lingual twth in a «.inKlc palih, phar>n({eil teeth sharp; bramhit>- Nle){iils six; operrle ending in two flat pointx ; preoperde sernite at its mifle, other membrane Umea chiefly entire; n'lM ruUvrn rather long and strong, dentate, less than ten in number, developed only oi the lower part of the arch, siales large, somewhat ctenoid; lateral line complete, the lubes occupying at least the anterior half of the surface of the scale; dorsal fin much more developed than the anal fin, with ten or eleven rather low spines; anal spines normally six; pectorals obtusely pointed with fourteen or fifteen rays, the upper longest ; caudal fin emarginate. (H;) Rock Batf. (Xmbloplites rupcstris.) Hody robust, oblong; caudal pedum le stout, almost as deep as long. Dory-al profile rather steep, strongly concave over eye. Kye large. Mouth large, the maxillary reaching to vertical from posterior end of pupil. The heavy lower jaw projects slightly. The opcrcle ends in two flat points; preoperde serrated at its angle, (iill rakers long and strong, less than tin in number ; six branchiostegals ; scales large, those on the cheeks in aliniii eight rows; cuida! rather deeply emarginate. The lateral line is roriipiete, placed high on body and follows the « ontour of the back. r>. XI., II ; .\. VI., II. Scales, 5-.^<^)-i4. Colour olive green, with a brassy tinge .md much dark mottling ; the young are pale or yellowish, irregularly b.irred and blotched with black ; adults with a dark spot at the base of each scale, these spots sometimes forming interrupted black stripes; ;i dark spot on the opercle; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with dark mottlings ; iris golden overlaid with crim- son. The Rock Bass grows to a length of about a foot and a weight of a pound and a half, though such large specimens are not often seen now. It ranges throughout the whole of this Province, and is said to or ridge connecting the parietal and supraoccipital crest, which arc \tr> strong. (H«) Warmouth. (Chajnobryttus gulosus.) Body heavy and deep, but more elongate than in our coinmoii Sun- fishes; head rather long; eye moder.ite ; mouth large, the maxillary reach- ing to below hind margin of eye; gill rakers eight or nine, besides soiiu rudiments; opercular spot about as large as the eye. The dorsal begins further back than the pectoral, its spines low. D. X., 9 to 10; .-\. III., « to 9. Scales, 6-40 to 4(i-i2. Colour very variable, usually olive green, clouded with darker ; .1 dusky spot on each scale more or less distinct; vertical fins mottled willi dusky; a faint spot on last rays of dorsal bordered by paler; three obIi(|iii dusky b.irs radiating from eye; belly yellowish. It reaches a length of ai)out ten inches. I am under the impression that some years ago this fish was found in the marsh at Toronto, and also near Hamilton, but of late no specimens have been obtainable. It should occur in Lake Eric and will prof)ably he found in the Niagara district. Its centre of abundance is, however, south of this Province. (.iM s APOMOTIS. This genus is very close to Lepomis, from which it differs only in n ,• development of the supplementary maxillary bone, which becomes rudi- mentary or wanting in the adult of Lepomis. The mouth is largest in the species in which this bone is best developed. Lower pharyngeals narrnw, 9 F. FISH OK OXTAUIO. HS with acute teeth; gill ral:ers well developed, long and stiff; peetoral blunt- i.sh, shorter than head ; scales moderate, 43 to 50. Habits similar to those of the species of Lepomis. (89) Green Sunfish. (Apomotis cyanellus.) Body oblong, the back not elevated; mouth large, the maxillary reaching ne:irly to middle of eye; dorsal spines low; opercular flap short, with pale margin. D. X., I ;i A. III., 10. Scal>'s, 7-47-14. Colour, green with a Ijrassy lustre, each scale with a blue spot and gilded edging; fins largely blue; anal edged with oiange; iris red; cheeks with blue stripes. I have no Ontario records of this fish, but as it will probably be found in Lake Erie, it is mentioned here. Its centre of abundance is said to be the Ohio basin. It is too small to be of value as a game fish, seldom attaining a greater length than six or eight inches. tlKMS LKI'OMIS. (.SlNFlSHES.) Body oblong or ovate, more or less compressed, the back in the adult somewhat elevated; mouth moderate or small, the jaws about equal ; maxil- lary narrow, the supplemental bone reduced to a mere rudiment, or alto- gether ' ; teeth on vomer and usually on palatines, none on tongue or ptery 1 wer pharyngeals narrow, the teeth spherical or paved, all or nearl\ rp, few or none of them conical; gill rakers mostly short; preopercu.am entire; operculum ending behind in a convex flap, black in colour, which in some species becomes greatly developed with age ; branchi- nstegals six ; scales moderate ; dorsal fin continuous, with ten spines ; anal with three spines ; caudal fin emarginate ; pectorals long or short. Colour- ation brilliant, but evanescent. .\ large genus, and one in which it is rather difficult to distinguish species. The form of body, development of oar flap and height of spines varv with age and condition, while the general appearance and the numlxjrs of fin rays and scales are essentially the same in all. SuBGE.NUs LEPOMIS. ((90) Blue Sunfish. (Lepomis pallidus.) Body deep, elliptical, its greatest depth at the ventrals, one-half of the total length without the caudal ; caudal peduncle short and deep. Head one-third of the total length without caudal. Snout short, obtuse and m CHKCK LIST OF THK oWiquf, the interorbital sp.K c slightly convi-x. Mouth small, obliquL', tli.- maxilla not (ircatly i-xpandfcl behind, reachinjj to below the front of tli.- eye. Scales on the cheeks in live rows. The «ill rakers are short and .'tout, about tifteen developed on the tir.st arch. .\o supplenu iital maxil- lary bone. \o palatine teeth. Caudal lin notched, its middlj rays three- fourths as lonn as the outer. The lateral line follows the curve of ih.- back. IX .\.. 11 ; A. III., lo. .Scales, 7-41-15. Colour, rich j;reenish olive on back, Ix-eoming paler on .sides; top oi head dark fjreenish ; opercles and cheek bluish; opercular Map rich velvety black, a small whitish spot above near its base; side with three or fou-- liroad darker greenish bars; tins all greenish, the pectoral palest; a lar>;e black blotch on la.st rays of dorsal, a similar one on an.il ; the dark bars bec()me obsolete in the adult; no blue stripe.s on cheek; no red on lins ; old individuals often with the belly coppery red or brassy. This is the large.st of the Sun.ishes, reading sometimes a len^Mh >\ twelve inches or rather more, and a weight of about a pound. Ti-,e" linol specimens 1 ever saw were taken from the Rideaii a few miles above Kinj;- -ston. It occurs abundantly in some parts of Lj.kcs Ontario and lu'ie aid their tributaries, but I have nr)t heard of it in the northwesterr part ol the Province. .\.s a table fish it is highly esteemed, and, in proportion to it.s size, possesses greater fighting qualities than any fresh-water fish we have. fJKMs HLPO.MOTI.S. X'ery closely related to Lepomis, differing otilv in the blunter and more pavemetit-like teeth of the lower pharyngeal 'bones. These bones are, m the typical species, broad and concave, specially in the adult. Then- IS considerable variation among the species, and it 'is possible th-it this division can not be maintained. Most of the species have long pector.il fins, the suplemental maxillary lost or very much reduced, and the oper- cular flap always with an orange patch on its lower posterior part, (iill rakers various, usually short. SimiEMs KLPO.MOTIS. (91) Yellow Sunflsh. Pumpkin Seed. (Kupomotis gibbosus.) Hody much compressed, nearly ox.'ite. its depth one-half the tot;il length without caudal; caudal peduncle short and compressed. Head moderately large, one-third of the .otal length without caudal. Snout sho't and depres.sed. the interorbital space nearly flat. Mouth small and oblique, the maxilla not much expanded behind and reaching to below front (if I a s s I aa FISH C)F ONTARIO. M eye. Scali's on the clieiks in four rows. The optrmliir spot short, liss than two-thirds diameter of the eye, with a whitish margin behind, tlill rakers very short, moderately stout, n or 1 1 develo|H,«l on th • first arch. C'.iuda! emar>;inate, its middle rays four-fifths as lonj; as the outer. The lateral line follows the curve of the back. I), y , ij; .\. ill., lo. Stales. ()-4.'-i3. Colour: In life c:'.l- of the most beautiful of fresh-water fishes; green- ish olive above, shaded with bluish, the sides spotted anil blotched with orange; belly orange yellow; cheeks orange with wavy blue streaks; lower fins orange; sides profusely mottled with orange. Opercular flap black, the lower posterior p.irt bright scarlet, (irows to a length of eight inches and a weight of half a pound. The common Sunfish is very abundant in all the waters of southern and central Ontario, ranging to Lake Huron, which is probably its limit for there are as yet no records of it from the I-'ike .Superior region. Though rather too small to be of value as a game or food fish, yet it affords grj'at sport to the younger anglers, and is by no means to h» despised upon the table. The spawning season is in May and June, the fish resorting to shallow w.iter, where the ova are deposited in nests scooped out in the sand or mud, by the action of the fins. Over these the males keep guard until the young are hatched, in the meantime d'-iving off all intruders .and promot- ing circulation of the w.iter by fanning with ventral fins and tail. (iKMs MICKOPTKRL'.S. (Bi.mk Bass.) Body oblong, compressed, the back not much elevat('d ; hc..^ oblong, conical ; mouth very large, oblique, the broad maxillary reaching nearly to or beyond the posterior margin of the eye, its supplemental bone well developed; lower jaw prominent; tcth on jaws, vomer and palatines in broad villiform bands, the inner deprcssible, usually no teeth on the tongue; preopercle entire, operculum ending in two flat points without cartilaginous Hap ; branchiostegals normally six ; gill rakers long and slender; scales rather sni.ill, weakly ctenoid; lateral line complete, the tubes straight, occupying the anterior half of each scale; dorsal fin di\ idcd by a deep notch, the spines low and rather feeble, ten in number; anal spines three, the anal fin much smaller than the dorsal ; pectorals obtusely pointed, the upper rays longest, ventrals close together below the pec- torals, caudal fin emarginate ; posterior processes of the premaxillaries not extending to the frontals ; frontals posteriorly with a transverse ridge connecting the parietal and supraoccipital crests, which are very strong. Two species; among the most Important of game fishes. m CilKCK LIST Ol" TMK ((jj) Small-mouthed Black Bass. Black Bass. (Mi (Iciliiiniiii.) Mody iivMlc-liiNirorni, l.iromi.ij; tlfcpcr wllli ;ij.c; mouth l.irKC, li;,| sm.illiT than in thi- liii>{i-iiiniith.>l hiat k ha>s ; maxillary iiulinK riinsid. , . ahly in Irunt ol pc.stcrii.r hordir of orhit. cxifpt in vtTV old t-xampK . ; .scali-s on rlu'.k minute; those on hody small; dorsal lin' deeply notehe.l, hut less so than in the next species, the ninth spine heinj; about half .,•! I"M« as the liflh and not inuih shorter than the tenth; soft dorsal and an.il e.iih sealv at the hase. lo to I.'. Se.iles, 11-7J to 85- Ahoul I). .\., I.; to 15; A. III. 17 rows of seales on eheek. t'olour, dull fjohlen «reen with hron/e lustre, often hlolrhfd willi darker, espeei.illy on lle.id ; you'ij; with dark.r spots alonj; the sides, whi( ti lenfl to form short verticil hars, hut never a dark lateral hand I three hrcMi/e hands radiatitij,' from <\e aen.ss rheek and opereles ; a duskv sp.^l on i)oint of oper.le; caudal hn yellowish at hase, then black, with'whiir lips; (lors.il with bron/e s|)ots, its edife dusky. In some waters the lin markin>,'s are obsolete, but they arc usually conspicuous in the youni;. Adults sometimes have all these ni.irkinfjs obliterated, the colour I'jecoiii- mti a unilorm de.id t^ree-i, willioiit silvery lustre, the stripes on the head, howcNer, remaining; more or less distinct. This M.iss is found in !i:reater or less abundance throutjiKmt the I'ni- vince. It seems to prefer cool, clejir waters, bavin}; .1 rockv or ^raveliv bottom, and ranjjes further north than its larjje-mouthed relative. As a fi.ime (ish it is sought after by .mj^lers in preference to .inv other, except. perhaps, the Salmon, and on the t;ilile is hiirhly esteemed :is food. Spawning betjins in .May and ends early ir Julv, the season beins; dependent largely upon the temperature of 'the wat'er ; incubation lasts from se\en to fifteen days. The parent fish scoop out sh.illow nests in Ihr s.ind (,r g.;nel to recei\e the eggs, which ;ire then gunrtted .issiduou'lv until hatched. The food of Hlaik Mass consists chiefly of insects, crustac-ans ar-l small lish, but when hungry nothing th.it it' can overpower comes .-imis. At the appro.ich of winter it ce.ises to feed and lies dormant under lot;s, weeds, or rocks until the warmth of spring restores at the same time ii< energy and voracity. Its maximum weight in our w.-ters is about six pounds, but fish .f this size arc r;ire. (t)^) Lar}!e-mouthed Black Bass. Yellow Bass. Green Bass. (Mil ropterus salmoides.) Body ovate-fusiform, becoming deeper with age, moderately con- pressed; hrad large; month very wide, the m.ixillarv in adult rcachi-s,' beyond the eye, shorter in the young; scales on bodv c'ompar.itively l.iri: ; gill rakers longer than gill fringes; dorsal Hn ver'v deepiv notched, tie spinous dorsal low, its fourth spine longest. m KIHH OK ONTAHIO I). X.. ij iir i\; \. III., Id nr II. S< al rows of wiilfs on clu-rk. '""• ""''S '" "o-'i^; I" "r II foloiir, (lark unvn alMivr, shIcn and Ulow KrtiniNh siK.ry ; youiis lith a hinf kish >lrip«- alon^ ihr nhIc from n|Kr. K- to miciill.' ol . aiiclal (in Three oblif)iH' dark «.iri(M's arro>s ihr « hci-k .iikI ipi-nlfs ; M)mi' dark \|K»t» alM)Vf and Ih'Iow lateral lim- ; i aiidal tin palf at hav, llun l)la< ki>.h, and whitish at tip; belly white As the fish Kn>«s f)l;;ite, terete or i <>nii)ressed, einered more or less completely with rather small, etenoid a about equal; premaxillaries protractile, little movable; teeth in villifonii bands, the jaws and palatines with long, sharp canines ; gill rakers slen- der, strong; gill membranes separate; preopercle serrated, the serr.e below turned forward; opercle with one or more spines, terminations o! radiating striae, dorsal fins well separated, the first with twelve to fifteen spines, the second with seventeen to twenty-one soft rays, last dors.il spine not erectile, bound down by membranes ; anal spines two, slender. closely appressed to the .soft rays, which are rather long, eleven to four- teen in number; ventral fins well separated, the space lx>tween them ec|u:il to their base, ventral spine slender, closely appressed to the soft ravs; scales small, strongly ctenoid; lateral line continuous; branchiosteg.ils seven; pseudobranchise well developed; pyloric caca three to seven. Large carnivorous fishes of the fresh waters of North .\mcrica. .SriK.KMs STIZOSTKDION. (94) Yellow Pickerel. Pike-Perch. Dore. (Stizostedion vitreum.) Body long and moderately deep, its depth varving with age; he.id long; eye rather large; lower jaw slightly projecting; the maxilla re.K h- ing beyond the pupil. The soft dorsal is nearlv as long ;is the spinous. D. XIIL, I., 21; A. IL, 12 to i.^. Scales, 10-90-19. Colour, olivaceous mottled with brassy; sides of the head \erini 'ncrel. Sauger. (Stizostedion canauen Body elongate, more terete than in the preceding, the flesh more trans- lucent ; head depressed, pointed. Eye small ; mouth smaller than in the last ; the maxilla reaches to the hind margin of the eye. D. XII. to XIII., I., 17 to 18; A. II., 12. Scales on lateral line, 92 to yS ; 4 to 7 pyloric ca-ca of unequal length ; all of them shorter than the stomach. Colour, olivaceous above ; sides brassy, with black markings in the form of irregular blotches which are best defined under the soft dor.sal. The spinous dorsal has several rows of round black spots on the membrane between the spines ; no black blotch on the hind part of the spinous dorsal. Pectorals with a large dark blotch at base; soft dorsal with several rows of dark spots irregularly placed ; caudal yellowish w ith dark spots form- ing interrupted bars. This is a smaller fish than the last, rarely exceeding eighteen inches in Itngth and a weight of two pounds. It is also less valued as a food fish, its flesh being softer and of inferior flavour. The range and habits of this species are much the same as those of its congener and in proportion to its size it is equally destructive to small fish. Two varieties have been described, viz., griscum and boreum, but it is doubtful if their distinctive characters are sufliciently permanent to entitle them to sub-specific rank. 9-.' CHECK LIST OF THE Gems FEKCA. (Tin: Trie Fekiiiks.) Body oblong, somewh.-il compressi'd, the buck fli'vatod ; chfi'ks simiv , opercles mostly naked; the operculum armed with a .sinj;le spine; pu- opercle and shoulder girdle serrated, preoper-le with retrorse, h(M)ke(l -i-i - rations below; mouth moderate, .terminal; premaxillaries protractile; titili in villiform bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines, no canine teeth ; branc hi- ostegaKs seven; gill membranes separate; pseudobranchiie small, but perfect; no anal papilla; scales rather small, strongly ctenoid, lateral Ink complete, the tubes straight and not extending to the extremity of tlu- scale; dorsal fins entirely separate, the first of twelve to sixteen spims: anal fin with two slender spines, well separated from the soft rays; ventr;il spines well developed, the ventral fins near together; raudal emarginatc ; air bladder present ; pyloric caca, three. (q6) Yellow Perch. (Perca flavescens.) Body fusiform, moderately elongate, the back elevated, cheeks scaly ; opercles mostly naked, striate; premaxillaries protractile, preorbital sci- rate ; snout projecting, maxillary reaching middle of pupil ; top of head rugose ; gill rakers stout ; caudal notched. D. XV., II., 13; A. II., H. Scales, 7-.S7-'3- Colour on the back olivaceous, varying to greenish ; sides goldcii yellow, with about six to eight broad dark bars which extend from bmk to 'jelow axis of body; lower fins largely red or orange, especially sd in the spring; upper fins olivaceous. Like all fish, it varies greatly, llic yellow is sometimes very bright, at other times quite pale, and the hlai k bars are much deeper in some waters than in others. This species reaches a length of ten or twelve inches and a weifjiil i)f a pound or rather more. The largest I ever saw taken from our l.ikis weighed one pound and two ounces. It is one of the most abundani nl our fishes and is found in all the lakes and streams of any si/e throui;li'iiii the Province. .\s a food fish, if taken when the water is cool it is mily excelled by the Yellow Pickerel, liuring the hot summer months ilio Perch of shallow, weedy waters becorno .sofi and lose their fine tla\nur. To anglers accustomed to Black Bass and Lunge it is rather an iiisjij. nificant species, but it has this to recommend it, that it can be cauf^l t by aiiybody, with any sort of tackle, at all times of the year. The Perch spawns in early spring and the eggs, which are very s'lall, are enclosed in a long, narrow, translucent, strip of adhesive mucus. (ii-M s PKRCINA. (L<>(. Perches.) Body elongate, slightly compressed, covered with small ct. noid scales; lateral line continuous; ventral line with enlarged plates whii '; tall FrSH OK oyTARIO. off, leaving u naki-d .strip ; hend dcpreso-d, ratiicr pointed, the mouth bein{( small and inferior, overlapped by a taprrin);, suhtruncate, piglike snout; upper jaw not protr.ictile, maxillary .i>mali, exposed ; teeth on vomer and palatines ; gill membranes scarcely connected ; dorsal tin well separated, the first the larger, of thirteen to fifteen spines, the second dorsal rather longer than the anal, which has two spines, the first of which is usually the shorter; pectorals symmetric, rounded or bluntly pointed, their rays four- teen or fifteen, their spines moderate; ventral tins well separated, the inter- space about equal to their base ; air bladder and pseudobranchiiu present, rudimentary. (97) LoM Pereh- (Percina caprodes.) Body long, slightly compressed; head long, with pointed snout mouth small; the lower jaw not reaching near to tip of snout, and the maxilla not extending to the front of the eye. Scales on cheeks and ijill covers, also on the space before the first dorsal ; breast scaleless. .\ row of enlarged plates on the belly, which are sometimes deciduous. Fins moderately low and rather long. D. XV., 15; .\. II., g. Scales in lateral line, 92. Colour, greenish yellow, with about fifteen dark cross bands, extend- ing from back to belly; alternating with those above the lateral line are fainter bars. Fins barred. A black spot at the base of the caudal. This is the largest of the Darters, renching a length of about eight inches. It is found throughout the Great Lake region in clear, rapid streams having a gravelly or rocky bottom. The variety next mentioned is probably the common form of Ontario. (98) Manitou Darter. (Percina caprodes zebra.) Similar to the last, but nape always naked ; lateral black bars short, not extending much above lateral line, these also more or less confluent, about twenty in number ; .. black caudal spot ; dorsal and caudal mottled. D. XV., 14; A. II., 10. Scales, 90. This variety of P. caprodes is found in the rapid streams of the Great Lake region, and more particularly those falling into Lake Superior. Genus HADROPTF.RUS. (BiAcK-sioEn Darteks.) Body rather elongate, compressed or not; rp.juth rather wide, ter- minal, the lower jaw included; the snout above not protruding beyond the premaxillaries, which are not protractile ; teeth on vomer and usually on palatines also ; gill membranes separate or more or less connected ; scales small, ctenoid, covering the body ; b.-lly with a median series of more or CMKCK MST OK THK less i-nlur({V(l spinous pljitt-s (ir ctenoid sciilcs, which in most species fall off at inl'.Tvals, leaving a nakei nearly so; fins larjje, the soft dorsal smaller than the .spinous or the anal, anal spines two (one of them very rarely obsolete); dorsal spines ten in fifteen; ventral lins mor, or less widely separated, specially in species with caducous plates. Parietal region more or less depres.scd, not stronylx convex in cn)ss section; supraiM-cipital cresi usually present, but small. I'yioric cii-ca, two to four. .Sini;h\is .MAOKDILS. (<^j) Black-sided Darter. (Hadropterus aspro.) Body slender, fusiform, elongate; head rather long and pointed; thi' maxilla extends slightly past front of eye ; the mandible is included ; thi eye large; gill membranes slightly connected; nape scaly or naked; cheeks with very small scales; large scales on opercles ; caudal peduncle rather long and slender ; caudal tin slightly emarginate. I). XII. to XV., 11 to 13; .\. II.. 8 to 10. Scales, t)-i\^ to 80-17. Colour, greenish yellow with dark tessellation.s and marblings alxivi', and aljout seven large blotches along the side which arc more or Icvss con- fluent ; fins fwrred iind there is a small spot at base of caudal. Length three to four inches. As this species is said to range all through the (ireat Lakes reginn westward to Manitoba, it probably (x-curs here JUgh I have not as yet found it. It frequents clear streams with gravelly '■ loms and is more active in its habits than most of the other Darters, n, ■ concealing itself so closcK under stones. (iKM s COTTOO.ASTKR. Body rather robust, little compressed ; head moderate, blunlisli ; mouth moderate or small; the lower jaw included; prcinaxillaries pro- tractile or occa.' '.mally joined by a narrow frenum to the frontal regioi. . maxillary not adherent to the preorbital ; teeth on vomer, gill mcmbran >; ne.'lv separate; scales ctenoid; the middle line of the belly anteriorly na' 1 or with caducous scales; lateral line continuous; dorsal fins lart;v, the second usually .smaller than the first and smaller than the anal; ami spires two, the first the longer; pyloric c:tca three; skull short, I'l; frontal region not very narrow, parietals little convex transversely, sutures distinct; no supraoccipital crest. FISH OK ONTAHKK W.-I Si w;k\is C'OI KMiAS TKK. (io>i) Copcland'K Darter. (C'<)Jt(>){;isttT ropclaiuli.) Hixly rathi-r slcnflcr and clonnati-; IumcI ratluT larnf anil lon^, sorm-- what narrowi'd. Mouth small, hori/ontal, Mihintcrior ; ilii'i-ks naked ; opcrilfs an«i m-ck i-aih >villi a few soaU-s ; ihroal nakc-44 to 5(1-8. Colour, brownish oli\e; a > of a variety of this spi-cics, C. c. putnami, is from Lake Champlain to I.ake Huron. It will therefore probably Ik- found in our w:iters, though I have not yet obtained it. (ii-Ms BOI.HO.SO.M A (Tksski.imki) Daktkks.) Body moderately elongate, fusiform, but slightly translucent ; head small, narrowed forward, the profile convex; mouth small, horizontal, the lower jaw included; premaxill.iry protractile; m.-.xillaries not adnate to preorbital ; vomerine teeth present; scales larfje ; l;iteral line continuous or interrupted behind; belly with ordinary scales; ^111 membranes broadly or narrowly connected ; dorsal spines usually nine, very slender and flex- ible, .soft dorsal much larger than anal ; anal normally with a sinnlc. short slender spine, the first soft ray simple, but articulate; ventrals well sep- arated; pyloric c.eca, three to six; frontal rejjfion of skull very sliort and narrow; parietal region fl.ittish above; no supraiK-cipital crest. .Size small, verv active little fishes. (101) Johnny Darter. (Holeosoma nigrum.) Body slender, fusiform ; head conical ; snout somewhat decurved ; mouth small, subinferior, lower jaw included within the up|X'r. (iill covers scaly, cheeks naked except in (M-casional individuals ; nape usually scaled. I). \III. to .\., 10 to 14; .\. I., 7 to 0- Scales, 5-44 to 55-<}. Colour, oliv.nceous ; the back with brown tessellations ; sides with manv \V-shap-sp«vi.-s : T»^-r'l,,i.,| r r. ( Itiiliiiaiiini ,ii;i,iiiii iiliiialrili,) (H": •osom 1 n olmstedi.) Vcr- similar to Uu last, but the clu.ks ami opt- r< los s^ ..jy ami n iiv and br.M^t nakid. I.atc. .,! line compl.tc ' IJ. IX., 14; A. I., y. Alxnit 50 s(ale.s on lati-ral lino. folc.iir. olivareous; tin, with nianv n;,rr\u Dakters.) Body slender and elongate, suljcvlindri.al ; pellucid in lilV. He;ul slender. Mouth rather wide, horizontal, the lower jaw included: premav- illaries very protractile ; teeth on the vomer. .Scales thin, ctenoid, littl,. imbric.ited. present .ilong the region of the Literal line, and on the tail sometimes wanting on the back or Ik'Hv ; Literal line complete, ea.h tub/ «)' the bark ami anotlur alons eai h side; lateral spots i-onn.< ted hy a n'lH h.-mcl. I.enjfth. three inrhes. \s this little lish has .1 ran^e from Lake Krie lo .Minnrsota, it will prohahly In- found in our Pro\inie, though as yet I havi- not taken it here. It frefnients clear sandy streams an<| avoids obsfvalion In liuryin^ itself in the s;md, leaving: only its eyes iuul snrmt visible. fiiMs KTHEOSTOMA. Hody robust, or rather elotin.ite, (•i)m[)ressi<| ; nioiith terminal, or sub- inferior, \,ir\in^r Id si/e ; the lower jjixv iiuliidi'd or project, n^;; prem.ixil- laries not protraetilc; maxillary movable; teeth r.ither stron^j, usually presi'nt on vomer and palatines; j^jM membranes separ;i,e or more or less bro.-idly ronnerted ; sealcs moderate or small, ctenoid, top of head without scales; scah^s of the middle line of the U'lly persistent and similar to the (Uhers; latrn'l line well developt'd, nearly sfraiijht, often wantiny: posteri- orly ; fins lar>;e, with strong spines, first dorsal usually longer and larger than the secfmd. with seven to hfteen spines; anal with two strong spines, the .interior usually the l.irger, the second rarely obsolete, anal fm always sm.iller than the soft dorsal; ventral fins more or les~ 1 lose together; skull narow. the parietal region very strongly comes in cross-section, supra- i«ceipital crest \ery small or wanting ; lower ph.iiyiigeals very narrow; pylori. cuM-a thn e or four; boiu'-i rather firm. M.iny .if the speciis art excessively variabJe. St MC.KMS .\IVICOI,.\. (104) Northern Darter. ( Ft heostoma b< ireale. ) Body moderately elongate, somewli.it eompressed, thccaidal peduncle rather long and stout, He.id rather heavy, the snout bluntish, rather strongly clecurved. Anterior profile genth and somewhat ovenly arched. Snout short, alwut hall as long as ey«'. Mouth .'learly horizontal, the lower jaw included, the maxillary extending to about opposite front of pupil. I'eeth sm:ill. Preopercle entire; opercular spine strong. I'remaxillary not protractile. Gill membranes very slightly connected. .\ small black humeraS scale; cheeks, opercles and nmhal region scaly; breast naked: scales oi moderate size; lateral linr very short, not reaching last spine of m CHKCK LIST OK THK dorsal, runninj; ratliir high and slightly arched. Scales of Ix-lly like those of the sides. Dorsal fins well separated, unusually short and small; soft dorsal a little higher than spinous dorsal, also unusiudly small for this genus; caudal long, truncate or slightly lunate; anal low and short, its spines high, the first highest; pectorals reaching past tips of venlrals. I>. IX., lo; A. II., (> or 7. Scales, 4-52-10. Colour, soft dorsal caudal and pectoral fins with dark Kirs and a hrownish red tinge, other fins white; a hrownish red tinge on sides, most conspicuous between the darker markings ; ten or eleven black bars across the back, those on the sides are more or less broken up and not so evident. Length, two and a-half inches. This Darter was first known only from a small stream near Mont- real. Since then it has bi*n found in (lull Lake, .Muskoka. In all proba- bility it inhabits many of the clear streams of central Ontario. Family SKRRAMD/K. Body oblong, more or less compressed, covered with adherent scales of moderate or small size, which are usually but not always ctenoid ; dorsal and ventral outlines usually not perfectly corresponding. ' Mouth moderate or large, not very oblique, the premaxilJary protractile and the broad max- illary usually not slipping for its whole length into ;i sheath formed by the preorbital, which is usually narrow. Supplemental maxillary present or absent. Teeth all conical or pointed, in bands, present on jaws, vomer and palatines. Gill rakers long or short, usually stiff, armed with teeth, dills four, a long slit Ix-hind the fourth. Pseudobranchia- present, large. Lower pharyngeals rather narrow, with pointed teeth, tlill membranes separate, free from the isthmus. Branchiostegals normally seven (occa- sionally six). Cheeks and operdes always scaly ; preopercle with its margin more or less serrate, rarely entire ; the operdes usually ending in one or two flat spine-like points. Nostrils double. Lateral line single, not extending to the caudal fin. Skull without cranial spines and usuallv without well developed cavernous structure. No suborbital stay. Post- temporal normal, second suborbital with an internal lamina supporting the globe of the eye ; enteroptygoid present ; all or most of the ribs inserted on the transverse processes when these are developed ; anterior vertebra' without transverse processes. Dorsal spines usually stiff; anal fin rather short, its soft ravs seven to twelve ; its spines if present alwavs three in our species. X'entrals thoracic without distinct axillarv scale. Pectorals well deve'oped, with narrow ba.se, the rays branched. Caudal peduncle stout. .\ir bladder present, usually small imd adherent to the wall of the alwlomen. Stomach ca>cal, with few or many pyloric appendages; intes- tines short, as is usual in carnivorous fishes. FISH OF ONTAUIO. uu Genus ROCCUS. (Stkipeu Bass.) Base of tongue with one or two patches of teeth ; anal spines gradu- ated; dorsal fins entirely separate; anal rays III., ii or u; supraoccipital crest scarcely widened above; lower jaw projecting. SuBGESt's LEPIBEMA. (I OS) White Bass. (Roccus chrysops.) Body oblong, elevated and compressed; head subconical, depressed oyer eye ; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching to below middle of eye ; villiform teeth in bands on jaws, palatines vomer and tongue ; the dorsal outline much curved. D. IX., I., 14; A. III., II to 12. Scales, S-fw-ij. Colour, silvery, tinged with golden below ; sides with narrow dusky lines, about five above the lateral line, one along it and a variable member below, these sometimes more or less interrupted or transposed. Length, twelve to fifteen inches ; weight, about a pound and a half. The White Bas-^ is found in all the Great Lakes of Ontario ; it rarely ascends streams, yut occurs sometimes abundantly at the mouth of the larger rivers. It is gregarious, usually swimmingin shoals containing a large number of individuals. As a game fish it ranks high, for it takes ■iiinnow bait readily, and during the summer months rises to a fly well. It is an excellent table fish when fresh caught. It spawns in May or June. Suborder RHEGNOPTERI. Family SCI^NID.E. (The Drims.) Body compressed, more or less elongate, covered with thin more or less ctenoid .v^ales. Lateral line continuous, extending on caudal fin; head usually large, scaly ; bones of head cavernous, the muciferous system Highly develcpt>d, the surface of the skull very uneven ; chin with pores ; nouth and teeth various; m.ixillary without supplemental bone, slipping beneath preorbilal; premaxillaries protractile; nostrils double; pseudo- branchiae usually present and usually large; branchiostegals seven; gill mtrrl^ranes separate, free from the isthmus; lower pharyngeals separate or ut.ted, often enlarged, the teeth conic or molar; prcopercie serrate or not, ofK-rclc usur.lly ending in two fiat points; dorsal deeply notched or divided into two fins, the soft portion being the longer, the spines depres- sible into a groo\e; anal with never more than two spines; caudal usually not forked ; ear-bones or otoliths very large ; air bladder usually large and complicated, its structure enabling the fish to make grunting or drumming sounds. 100 CHKCK LIST OF THK 3 Genus 'FLODINOTL'S. (Fkksii-water Drim.) Hody oblong, thi' snout Ijliint, the back flevated and compn-sstd ; mouth rathiT small, low, horizontal, ilie lower jaw included ; teeth in \ illi- form bands, the outer above scarcely enlarged; no barbels; pseudn- branchia- rather small ; gill rakt rs short and blunt ; lower pharyngeals very large, fully united, with coarse blunt paved teeth; preopercle slightly serrate; dorsal spines strong and high, with a close fitting scaly shiatli at base, the two dorsals somewhat connected; second anal spine very strong; caudal double truncate; air bladder very large, simple, with no appendages; pyloric ca-ca, seven; vertebra', io+ 14 .!4. (106) Sheepshead. Fresh-water Drum. (Aplodinotus grunniens.) Boay moderately elongate, somewhat compressed ; head rather short ; snout obtuse ; maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye ; lower jaw shorter than (he upper. D. IX. I., 30 to 31 ; .\. II., -. The scales are very irregularly placeil, about fifty-five on the lateral line. Colour, greyish, darker on the back ; lower parts silvery. Nounj,' specimens have dark spots along the rows of scales, forming oblique lino. \ common fish distributed throughout the entire (ireat Lakes r.'gioii and particularly abundant in Lake Erie. It reaches a large size, specimen-, of over fifty pounds' weight having been taken from southern watir>. With us, however, about eight or ten pounds would be the maximun It is a bottom fish, feeding chiefly upon crustaceans and mollusc >. It occasionally takes a minnow bait, but I have not found it a ready bilcr. When hooked it fights hard and affords good sport to the angler, but a^ ;i food fish it is worthless, its llesh being tough and coarse, with an unpkMs- ant odour. The name Jewel-head sometimes given to this fish refers to ihc oUt- liths, or ear-bones, frequently called "lucky stones," which are found in its .skull. Order PLECTOGNATHI. (The Plectognathous Fishes.) One of the most important oHslMK)ts of the .\canthoptcri is the guniji or order I'lectognathi. The extremes of this group show a remarkiil'r divergence from the usual type of spiny-rayed fishes. The Plectognathi are thus defined by Dr. dill: Scapula suspend, il to the cranium bv a post-temporal which is short, undivided and anch - losed to the epiotic. Premaxillaries usually coossified with the maxillano behind and the dcntary bones with the .irlicular ; intcroperde a i-lendrr rod; lower pharyngeal bones distinct; upper pharyngeals laminar, usually vertical and transverse; skin usually with rough shields or scales or bony plates; skeleton imperfectly ossified, the number of Nertebrte usually sni. "l. typically less than 24 (usually 14 to 20), rarely (onsiderably increased. •■H U F. FISH OF ONTAUIO. m openings restricted to the sides; ventral tins reduced or wanting, the piMc bones usually elongate. Spinous dorsal small or wanting; air bladder without duct. Fishes mostly inactive and depending on their tough skin or bony or spinous armature for their protection. Suborder LORICATI. Family COTTIU.K. (Thk Scli.pins.) Body more or less elongate, the head usually large and depressed ; eyes high ; bony stay conspicuous, but not covering the cheek ; preoperck- armed; teeth in villiform bands; maxillary simple; gills three and a hall or four; gill membranes connected, often joined to isthmus. Bf>dy naked, or irregularly scaled, or warty, never evenly scaled; lateral line present. Dorsais usually separate, the spines slender ; anal without spines ; pet torals large, with broad procurrent base, the lower rays simple; ventrals thoracir, sometimes wanting, never united. Pseudobranchia> present. Vertebra' numerous, thirty-five to fifty. Oroi I- COTTIN'.li:. Gems COTTUS. (Fresh-water Scum-ins.) Body fusiform. Head feebly armed; skin smooth or more or less velvety, its prickles, if present, not bony or scalelike ; villiform teeth on jaws and vomer and sometimes on palatines. Giil openings separated by a wide isthmus over which the membranes do not form a fold; no slit behind the fourth gill. Branchiostegals six. Dorsals nearly or quite separate, the first of six to nine slender spines; ventrals moderate, each with a short, concealed spine and four soft rays. Lateral line present, usually more or less chain-like, sometimes incomplete. Freopercle with a simple spine at its angle, which is usually curved upward, its base more or less covered by skin, very rarely obsolete, usually two or three spines turned downward below this; subopercle usually with a concave spine turned I'ovvnward. Vertebrse, 10+23=^33. Pyloric ca-ca, about four. Subgenus PEGRDFCTUS. 1107) Miller's Thumb. Blob. (Cottus ictalops.) Body rather robust, gradually tapering to the tail ; head \ ery broad ; preoperclc with a short, sharp, straightish spine, turned upward and back- ward, with two smaller spines below it; skin usually smooth, sometimes with minute prickles behind axil of pectoral ; spinous dorsal beeins slightly behind end of head, separated from second dorsal by a deep notch ; second dorsal about two and one-third times longer than first and one-third longer than anal base. Pectoral, ventral and caudal fins well developed. 109 CHECK LIST OF THE D. VI. to VIII., i<); A., 12 to 13. Colour, olivaceous, much speckled ; sicks usually with several distimi and rather broad cross bands; fins barred and mottled. Length, five ur six inches. Very variable in size, colour, and length of fins. This fish ranges through the entire Great Lake Region and is abun- dant in some of the Lake Superior trout streams, where it is said to Iw very destructive to the eggs and young of Brook Trout. Genus URANIUIiA. (Mili.ek's Thumbs.) This genus is very close to Cottus, from which it differs in the reduc- tion of its ventrals to a concealed spine and three soft rays, a step further in the degeneration characteristic of fresh-water types. The skin is smooth or very nearly so, the prcoporcular spines small, and there is usually no trare of teeth on the palatines. (109) Franklin's Sculpio. (Uranidea franklini.) Body rather short and stout ; snout not very obtuse ; maxillary reach- ing about to pupil ; eye four in head ; prcopercular spine hook-like, very acute ; paired fins rather short, the pectorals not reaching vent ; first dorsal nearly as high as second ; dorsals contiguous ; anal inserted under fourth ray of second dorsal ; caudal six in length ; lateral line incomplete ; vt-nt nearer base of caudal than tip of snout. D. Vi:*., 17; A., 12; V. I., 3. Length, three inches. Lake Superior. (108) Lake Miller's Thumb. (Uranidea formosa.) Body slender and graceful ; head small, depreSoed ab«)ve ; eyes niotl- erile; preopercular spine short, stout, acute, curved upwards; a small spine below it ; subopercular spine well developed. Dorsals well separated ; anal beginning under third ray of soft dorsal ; pectorals not reaching to posterior margin of spinous dorsal ; ventrals not nearly to vent. D. VIII., 16; A. II. Length, three and one-fourth inches. A single mutilated specimen has been recorded, this having been found by Prof. S. F. Baird in the stomach of a Burbot (Lota maculosa) taken from Lake Ontario. Genus TRIGLOPSIS. Body and head slender ; skin naked ; lateral line chainlike ; teeth on vomer, none on the palatines ; eye large, the interorbital area concave ; FISH OF ONTAHIO. lOS bxties of lower part of head extfnsivfly c.ivcrnou.s ; a small but «li>ttinct slit behind last gill; gill membranes almost Iree from the isthmus, forming a broad fold across it; prcopercular spines straight, simple, four in num- l>er, the lower turned downward; fins large. (MO) Lake Sculpin. (Triglopsis thompsoni.) Body elongate, very slender. Head long, dtpri .s>e(l .ibove. Snout long and pointed; eye quite large; jaws subequal ; mouth large; the max- illary extending rather beyond middle of eye ; preopcnle with four sharp spines; cavernous structure of skull highly developed; upper surface of head smooth; gill membranes not broadly united; nearly free from isth- mus. E)orsal fins well separated; spinous dorsal short and low; second dorsal very large ; anal high ; pectoral long, reaching past front of anal ; ventrals well developed; lateral line chain-like, conspicuous; skin per- fect i< smooth. n. VFI., i8; A., ij. Colour, pale olivaceous with darker blotches ; upper fins faintly banded. Little is known of this species. Specimens have Ix-cn taken occa- sionally from deep water in Lake Ontario, but there are no other records for this Province. Suborder ANACANTHINL Family GADID/E. (Codfishes.) Body elongate, ending in an isocercal tail; scales small, cycloid. Mouth large, the teeth various. No pseudobranchia;. Vertical fins sep- arate. Dorsal and anal long; no fin spines. Gill openings very wide, the membranes free from the isthmus. Gills four ; air bladder present. Pyloric ca-ra numcrou.s. X'cni-bne, about fifty. Carnivorous fishes chiefly of the northern seas, many of them of great iM-onomir value. One species in fresh waters. Gexi's lota. (Lings.) Body long and low, compressed lichind; head small, depressed, rather broad: anterior nostrils each with a small barbel; chin with a long barbel ; snout and lower parts of head naked; mouth moderate, the lower jaw included ; each jaw with broad bands of equal villiform teeth ; vomer with a broad crescent-shaped band of similar teeth ; no teeth on palatines ; gill openings wide, the membrane somewhat connected, free from the isthmus ; scales very small, embedded: vertical fins scaly; dorsal fins two, the first short, the .second long, similar to the anal ; caudal rounded, its outer rays procurrent ; ventrals of several rays. IM CHKCK MHT OF THK (III) Biirbst. Ling. (Lotn maculosa.) Body elongate, ftomewhat c«l-!ihape(l, sli({htly compressed posteriorly. Eye small. The upper jaw reaches slightly beyond the hind margin of tlir eye ; the lower jaw included in the upper, and has a stout barbt-l which is nearly one-fifth as long as the head. The ventral is longer than the pec- toral, but does not reach half way to vent ; the dorsal tins arc separated by a narrow interspace, second dorsal higher than first ; caudal rounded ; the scales are deeply embedded in the skin, not imbricated. D., 13, 68 to 76; A., 67. Colour, d:irk olivaceous, reticulated with blackish, the lower parts yellowish (»r dusky; the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with a narrow, dark edge. The average length of this species in our waters is aliout two ftn-t. It is found in all the larger lakes and rivers of the Province, usually in deep water, except during the .spawning season in the spring, when it runs into streams or on to rocky shallows. In this Province it is considered worthless as a fjHxl or game fish, but in the V'ukon and some parts of the far north its flesh is eaten and its liver is considered a tlelicacy. i APPENDIX. MilE lAITEl: RAINNW DARTEI iitkmlmu mrfkm). Heuii \l. depth 4l, vyv 4 u> 4^ in hiiwl, lillU hhurlcr than siioiit, I). I\ to XH — 13 to 14. A. II., 7 or H; scul, s v 37 to 50- 10 usually 5 — 45 «o pores iH to 35- Body robust, rather deep ;ind < oniprftwd, the liaok somewhat ek-vated. Mead larjfe, compressed. Mouth moder- ate, terminal, oblique, the lower jaw .somewhat ineluded the maxillary, rcaihin^r front ol orbit; i»perrular spin. iv,.i<|,rate ; gill membranes not ef»mec«"l. I»al;iiine leelt in one ri«\v I heeks naked or nearly so. operclt -• sealed; nerk and breast usually naked. Fins all lartje, dorsal (ins usually vjijfhtly cnnneeied. .Anal spiiM s sulH(|ual, tches; Ijack without black li n^rlhuise stripes; sides with al>onl u indigo blue bars running obliquely
  • raiii,' int< rsp,i,y , , ,,,,,da! fin deep orange, edged with bright blue, iinal 1111 or iti^'< , «ilh deep blue in front and S<'hind ; soft dorsal, chielly ur.m^c, l>liit ,tt bas< iiiKl tip; spinous dorsal, crittison at base, then ot.iii;. «ilh I., le ■l^iti^'s; ventrals deep indigo; cheeks blue; throat and breast 01 miii-; i iii;il s much dtdler, with little blue or red, the vertical tni> b.irred or c ht. I,nj,th :\ incln ^. (Jayest of all the Darters, and indeed the gaudiest of all fresh water fishes. It makes its home in the ripples ;ind sit.illous of the rivers and in the shady retreats of briM^ks. It is a chubby little fish as compared with the other Darters. In its movem<-nts it is awkward and ungraceful, though swift and savage .is ,t Pike. One of the mildest of its tricks which we havi- noticed is this. It would gently put its head over a stone and catch a water boatman by one of its swimming legs, release it, catch it again and again release it, until .It last the boatman evidentlv much annoyed swam aw:iy out o* its reach. It will follow to the surface of the water a piece of meat sus- pended by a string. It is more alert in discovering this than a hungry Sunfish or Rock Bass, and it can be led around like a (>• 1 Iamb by a thread to which is fastened a section of a worm. (Jordan and Fvermann). While this work was in the printers' hands, I took several spt. In birds any lengthened feathers about the head; elsewhere any elevated or crest-like projection. Crbtuin. The un«Jer tail coverts in birds. Ctenoid. Rough-*>dKed; said of scales when the posterior margin is min- utely spinous or pectinated. Culmen. The middl«> line or ridge of the upper mandible in birds. Cuneate. Wedge-shftped ; said of a bird's tail when the middle feathers are longest jnd the rest regularly shorter. Cycloid. .Smooth-«dged ; said of scales not ctenoid, but concentrically striate. D. Deciduous. Temporary; falling off. Decomposed. Separate; standing apart. Decurve^. Curved downward. Dentary. The principal or anterior bone of the lower jaw, usu.illy Ix', ing the teeth. Dentate. With tooth-like notches. Denticle. A little tooth. Dentirostral. Having the bill notched near its tip. Depressed. Flattened vertically. Depth. Vertical diameter (usually of the lx)dv of (i>he>l. Dermal. Pertaining to the skin. Desmognathous. I'nitcd palate, as in the lower wate, l)irds (Loo* Gulls, etc.). Diagnostic. Distinctively characteristic. Diaphanous. Translucent. Diaphragm. Musrular septum between thorax .uul abdomm. Diapophysis. Transverse process of a vertebra. Digitigrade VValki.nir on the toes like a dog. Distal. Remote from point of atf;>chment. Dorsal. Pertaining to the back. Dorsal In. The tin on the back of fishes. E. Emarginate. Slightly forked, or notched .nt the tip; abruptly n:^ff,we(\ or notched toward th* tip (said of quills). Endoskeleton. The skeleton proper; the inner bony framework of the body. Enteron. The alimentary vanal. no CHKCK IJST OF THE Hpibraachiala. The bones directly above the angle of the branchial arches. Epjhyal. One of the hyoid bones. Epipteuralg. Rays of bone attached to the ribs and anterior vertebra', usually touching the skin in the vicinity of the lateral line. Hrectile. Susceptible of being raised or erected. Erythrism. .\ peculiar reddish state of plumage. Ethmoid. .\ median anterior bone of the skull. Eustachian tllb«s. Tubes connecting the inner car with the pharynx. Even (tail). Having all the feathers of equal length. Exoccipitals. Two bones of the skull, one on each side of the foramen magnum. Exoskeleton. Hard parts (scales, scutes, feathers, hairs) on the .surface of the body. Exserted. Projecting l^-yond the general level. Extra-limitil. Beyond the limits. F. Facial. Pertaining to the face. Falcate. Sickle-shaped; long,' ii;irrow and curvrd. Falcilorm. Curved like a scythe. Fauna. The animals inhabiting anv re<;ioii l;ikcn rollfitivoly. Femoral. Pertaining to the thigh, or proximal bone of the hinder log. Ferruginous. Rusty red. Fibula. The small outer leg bone. Filament. Any slender or thread-like strui turc. Filiform. Thread-form. Fissirostral. Having the bill very dejply cleft, Ijeyond the base of tho horny part, as in the SwalUiws. Fontanel. .An unossified space on top of head covered with membrane. Foramen. A hole or opening. Foramen magmm. The aperture in the posterior part of the skull for thf passage of the spinal cord. Forehead. Frontal curve of head. Forficate. Deeply forked ; scissors-like. Fossce (nasal). GrtMives in which the nostrils open. Fossorial. Adapted for digging. Frontal bone. Anterior Ixine on top of head, usually p.iired. Fulcra. Rudimentary spine-like projections extending on the antericr rays of the fins of ganoid fishes. Fuliginous. Sooty-brown. Fulvous. Of a brownish yellow colour. Furcate. Forked. Fuscous. Of a dark grayish-brown colour. Fniform. Spindle-shap«'d ; tapering towards both ends, but rather mor< abruptly forward. KISH OF ONTAIUO tit Gaaglion. A iH-rve centre. Ganoid. Sales or plates of bone covered by enamel. Gape. Opening of the mouth. Gaitroslages. Band-like plates .ilong the belly r ha-mal arches as a whole. Hsmal spine. The lowermost spine of a caudal vertebra, in fishes. Hcmopophyses. .\ppendages on the lower side of abdomin.il vertebra- in fishes. Hallux. The great toe in birds the hind toe. Height. Vertical diameter. Heterocercal. Said of the tail of a fish when unequal the b.ickbone evi- dently running into the upper lobe. Hirsute. With shaggy hairs. Homocercal. Said of the tail of a fish when not evidently unequal ; the backbone apparently stopping at the middle of the base of the caudal fin. Humerus. Bone of the upper arm. Hyoid. Pertaining to the tongue. Hyoid apparatus. Formed by a .series of bones extending along the inner side of the mandible and supporting the tongue. 112 CHKCK LIST Oh THE Hyomandibular. A bone by which the posterior end of the suspensoriuin is articulated with the skull ; the supporting element of the sus- pensoriuni, the mandible, the hyoid apparatus, and the opercular apparatus. Hypercoracoid. The upper of the two bones attached to the clavicle indi- rectly bearing the pectoral fin. Hypleural. The modified last vertebra supporting the caudal fin. Hypobranchials. Bones of the branchial arches below the ceratobranch- ials. 2Iypocoracoid. The lower of the two bones attached to the two clavicles behind. Hypognathous. Havinp the lower mandible longer than the upper, as in the Black Skimmer. Hypophyals. Small bones, usually lour, by which the respective sides of the hyoid apparatus are joined. I. Imbricate. Overlapping, like shingles on a roof. Imperforate. Not pierced through. Inarticulate. Not jointed. Incisors. The front, or cutting teeth. Intraoral. Below the mouth. Interfemoral membrane. The membrane connecting the posterior limbs of a bat. Interhsmal spines. Elements supporting the anal fin. Interhsmals. Bones to which anal rays are attached in fishes. Intertayal. Upper hyoid bone attached to hyomandibular. Intermaxillaries. The premaxillaries ; the bone« forming the middle of the front part of the upper jaw in fishes. Intermusculars. Synonym of epipleurals. Internasals. Plates on the forehead of the snako on the line connecting the two nostrils. Interneurals. Bones to which the dorsal rays are attached in fishes. Interopercle. Membrane bone between the preopercle and llic brancliio- stegals. Interorbitai. Sp.ice between the eyes. Interscapular. Between the shoulders. Interspinals. Bones to which fin-rays are attached (in fishes) inserted between neur.-il spines above and hsmal spines below, (socercal (tail). Last vertebrse progressively smaller and ending in median line of caudal fin as in the Cod-fish. Isthmus. The narrow unperforated floor of the mouth, between the gill openings in fishes. FISH OF ONTAHIO. lis J. JugHlar. Pertaining to the lower throat; said of the ventral fins when placed in advance of the attachment of the pectorals. JMgulum. The lower throat. K. Keeled. Ila' ing a ridge along the middle line. L. Labials. I'latcs forming the lip of a serpent. Lacustrine. Living in lakes. Lamells. Plate-like processes, such ;is arc seen inside a duck's bill. Lamellate. Said of a bill provided with lamella-, as in a duck. Lanceolate. .Shaped like the head of a lance. Larva. .\n immature form, which must undergo change of appearance before becoming adult. Larynx. A hollow cartilaginous organ; a moditic.iiion of the windpipe. Lateral. To or towards the side. Lateral line. \ series of muciferous tubes forming a raised line along the sides of a fish. Lateral processes. Synonyin of parapophyses. Laterally. Sidewise. Lobate. Furnished with membranous flaps; said of the toes of birds. Lobe. Membranous flap. Longitudinal. Running lengthwise. Loral plate. Plate lietween eye :md nostril of a serpent, Ix-forc and below pretK-ular when this is present; its longest diameter horizontal. Lores. Space between eye and bill. Lunate. Form of the new moon ; having a broad and rather shallow fork. M. Mammary Glands. Glands secreting milk. Mandible. L'nder jaw (or in birds either jaw). Maxilla or maxillary. I'ppcr jaw. Maxillarie.s. Outermost or hindmost bones of the upper jaw in fishes; they are joined to the premaxillarics in front and usually extend further bark th;m the latter. Mcla«iMn. State of colouration arising from excess of dark pigment; a frequent condition of hawks. McmbrWM. Soft skinny covering of the bill of some birds, lli F. 114 CU£CK LIST OF THK MtMtkmoid. Synonym of ethmoid. Mesoptoryfoid. A bone of the suspensorium. Mttacarpus. The hand proper exclusive of the fingers. Mttamorpbotit. A decided change in form. Matapteryjoid. A tx>ne of the suspensorium, or chain supporting the lower jaw. MeUtinus. The foot proper. Molars. The grinding teeth ; posterior teeth in the jaw. Monogamous. Pairing; said of birds. Muciferous. Producing or containing mucus. Myocomma. A muscular band. Myodome. Cavity under the brain for the reception of the rectus muscles of the eye. Nape. Upper part of neck, next to the occiput. Nares. Nostrils, anterior and posterior. Nasal. Pertaining to the nostrils. Nasal plate. Plate in which the nostrils arc inserted. Nanral arch. An opening through the base of the neural spine, for the passage of the spinal cord. Neural canal. The neural arches as a whole. Neural processes. Two plates rising vertically, one on each side of the centrum of the vertebra, which unite toward their ends and form a spine. Neural spine. The uppermost spine of a vertebra. Nictitating membrane. The third or inner eyelid, of birds, sharks, etc. Notochord. A celluiar cord, which in the embryo precedes the vertebral column. Nucha. The upper part of the hind neck, next the hind head. Nuckal. Pertaining to the nape or nucha. O. Obscure. Scarcely visible. Obsolete. Faintly marked ; scarcely evident. Obtuse. Blunt. Occipital. Pertaining to the occiput. Occipital condyle. That part of the occipital bone modified ro articulate with the atlas. Occipital plates. Plates on the head of a serpent, behind the vertical plate. Occiput. Back of the head. Ocellate. With eye-like spots, generally roundish and with a lighter border. FISH OF ONTARIO. 113 Old (suffix). Like; as Percoid, pcrrh-likc. Opcrcia, or operculum. Gill cover ; the post.rior nn-mbrane bone of the side of the ht-ad, in fishes. Opercular bones. Membrane bones of the side of the head, in fishes. UperCHlar lap. Prolon>;ation of the upper posterior angle of the opercle, in Sun-fishes. Oplsthocallan. Concave behind only ; said of vertebrje which connect by ball and socket joints. Oplstholic. A bone of the skull to which the lower limb of the post-tem- poral usually articulates. Orbicular. Nearly circular. Orbit. Eye socket. OMlae. Musical. Osclnet. A proup of singing birds. Osseous. Bony. Ossleula audltns. Bones of the car in fishes Osteology. Study of bones. Oviparous. Producing eggs which arc developed after exclusion from the body, as in all birds and most fi.shes. Ovovlrlparouik Producing eggs which .-.ro hatched before exclusion, as in the Dogfish and Garter Snake. Ovum. Egg. Palate. The roof of the mouth. Palatines. Membrane bones of the roof of mouth ; one on each side extending outward and backward from the vomer. ' Palmate. Web-footed ; having the anterior toes full-webbed Palustrine. Living in swamps. Papilla. A small, fleshy projection. Papillose. Covered with papillx. Paragnathous. Having the two mandibles about equal in length. Parasitic. Living on, or deriving nourishment from some other living thing. Habitually making use of other birds' nests. Parapophyses. The lateral projections on some of the abdonunal verte- brae to support ribs. Parasphenoid. Bone of roof of mouth behind the vomer. Synonym of prefrontal. ' Paratoid. A glandular body behind the ear in Batrarhians. Parietal. Bone of the side of the head above. Parotic process. A posterior lateral process of the skull formed by the ptcrotic and opiosthotic. Pectinate. Having teeth like a comb. Pectoral. Pertaining to the breast. •mn tlA CHRC'K I.IKT or THK riu-> usiiallv Psctoral flns. 'I'lio .interior 'inK, in fiKhcM cor* rr!l ihc higher vertchntes. PeliKc. Thr hair of n mnmm;il takt-n •(iJct lively. Pelaijic. i.ivini; on nr in thi- high Hcas. Pelvic gitdh The til 'lies viippnrtin^' thv ventral finn or pelvics. Pelvis. The txtnes to u hii h the liiiuler limbs (ventral fins in fishes) are alt.-irhed. Perforate. I'lciced throuKli; >''if nostii'- when without a Kcpium. Perissodactylous (Kid toed (t ..s i, .^ or Peritoneum. The ineinl)raiU' lining' Ihi- alidominal ravity. Plialan|(e!«. Mones of the ringers and tofs. Pharyngeal bones. Hones iM-hiiui the k'"'' *■"' •'*( ''"^ 'M-KinninK of ihr <•' >vv and Inur '.lirs alM)V rppres«-nt a fifth pill arch. PharynKobranchials. I'pper elenients of the hi.mehi.il an he heariiijj teeth. Pliarynj{onathous. Havinj; the lower I'laryntv.il Ujnes united. Physoclistous. Mavinf; th<- air bladfter closed. Physostomous. Having the air liladder connected by a lul)e wilh ihe ali- menalry i .inal. *'i|(ment. Colouring matter. Pineal body. A small ganglion in ilic brain; a rudiment of .tn optic lobe. which ill certain li/ardv >,ind in extinct forms) is connectetl with a third or median eye. Pituitary body. .\ small gangling in the brain. Planta. .Sole of foot. Plastron. Lower shell of a turtle. Plicate. I'ohled, showing tr.insvtrse folds or wrinkles. Plunia((e. "^he feathers of a bird i iken collectivelv. Plumbeous. Lcad-<-oloured ; fliill bluish gray. Poilex. Thumb; in birds the di>;i' which l)e:irs the alula- corresponrearm. Primary wiujf covertl. The coverts overlying ilu- base of the primaries. Procolian. C'oneave in front only. P>i>current (tin). With the lower rays inserte