436 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



Ontario. DeKay reported it as very common in Lake Erie, and called Sheepshead 

 at Buffalo. At the time of his writing the fish was scarcely ever eaten. It is found 

 principally in large streams and lakes, and rarely enters creeks and small rivers. In 

 Western Texas the species is rare. In the wilds of Texas, New Mexico and North- 

 ern Mexico Mr. Turpe has found this fish in clear limestone streams emptying into 

 the Rio Grande. 



This species is usually found on the bottom, where it feeds chiefly on crustaceans 

 and mollusks, and sometimes small fishes. It is especially fond of Crawfi.sh and 

 small shells, such as Cyclas and Paludina. Mr. Turpe mentions water plants as 

 forming part of its food, and states that it will take a hook baited with worms or 

 small Minnows. 



The Fresh-water Drum grows to a length of 4 feet and a weight of 60 pounds, 

 but the average market specimens rarely exceed 2 feet in length, and in many parts 

 of the West much smaller ones are preferred. Nothing is recorded about the breed- 

 inghabits of this species, and as to its edible qualities there is the greatest differ- 

 ence of opinion. Some writers claim that its flesh is tough and coarse, with a 

 disagreeable odor, especially in tlie Great Lakes. Individuals from the Ohio River 

 and from more southern streams are fairly good food fish, while in Texas Mr. Turpe 

 considers it one of the most excellent of the fresh water fishes, comparing favorably 

 with Black Bass. Mr. Ridgway, of the National Museum at Washington, pro- 

 nounces the species from the Wabash River in Indiana a fine table fish, although, he 

 sa)'s, other people there consider it inferior. Richardson described what is sup- 

 posed to be a deformed specimen of this Drum under the name of Malashegany, 

 which lie had from Lake Huron. He described it as a firm, white, well-tasting fish, 

 but never fat and requiring much boiling. 



130. Bergall ; Gunner ; Chogset ; Nipper ( Tautogolabrns adspcrsns Walbaum). 



Tautoga cccrulca Mitchill, Rept. Fish. X. Y., 24, 1814, New York. 



Labrus chogset Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y., I, 402, pi. 3, fig. 2, 1815, New York. 



I.abnis ihogsct fiilva Mitchill. 1. c. 403, 1815, New York. 



Creiiolabrits uninotatus DeK.'W, N. Y Fauna, F'ishes, 174, pi. 29, fig. 90, 1842. 



Ctenolabriis adspersus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus., 599, 1883. 



Ctenolabnis adspcrsi's 'Rz.\n, 19th ReptI Comm. Fish. N. Y., 251, pi. IV, fig. 6, 1890. 



Tautogolabrns adspcrsns Beax, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 87, 1880; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 

 Hist., IX, 368, 1897; S2d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus., 107, 1900 ; Jordan & Ever- 

 MANN, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., II, 1577, 1896, pi. CCXXXVI, fig. 595, 1900. 



Color bluisli or brownish, usually with a brassy luster on sides; head and back 

 sometimes spotted with brassy ; young with darker blotches and markings, and 



