458 



COLLEGE ZOOLOGY 



chiefly west of the Mississippi River. The bullhead is tenacious 

 of life and can live out of water for some time. The blue or 

 Mississippi catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, is a valuable food-fish. 

 It inhabits the sluggish waters of the streams of the Mississippi 

 Valley and Gulf States, and is the largest member of the family, 

 sometimes reaching a length of five feet and attaining a weight 

 of over one hundred pounds. Another large species is the chan- 

 nel or spotted catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. It occurs in the 

 Great Lakes region and Mississippi Valley, and prefers clear, 

 flowing water. 



Family ELOPID^E. - - The Tarpons. There are four or five 

 species of tarpons inhabiting the tropical seas. The common 



FIG. 388. The tarpon, Tarpon atlanticus. (From the Cambridge Natural 



History, after Goode.) 



tarpon, Tarpon atlanticus (Fig. 388), is a famous game-fish on 

 the coast of Florida, and is called the " silver king." 



Family CLUPEID.^. - - The Herrings. The members of this 

 family are mostly salt-water forms. They are not game-fishes, 



FIG. 389. The herring, Clupea harengus. (From Jordan and Evermann.) 



