FIELD BOOK OF PONDS AND STREAMS 



in ponds and sluggish streams, is the commonest of the smaller 

 catfishes (Fig, 278). It is dark yellowish brown above, 

 var^ang to black, mottled on its sides and lighter beneath. 

 The black bullhead (A. melos) is very similar but small — 

 not more than 6 inches long — and almost black. 



Most of the stonecats, Schilbeodes, live among the stones in 

 the riffles of rapid streams, skulking under the stones and 

 feeding upon insects, entomostracans, minnows, sometimes 

 crayfish. Their opaque yellow eggs are fastened to the under 

 sides of stones, in masses about two inches across and an inch 

 thick ; they spawn in June and July. Other names for fishes 

 of this family are common bullhead, homed pout, stonecat, 

 mongrel bullhead, deepwater bullhead. 



Size. — Common bullhead, up to 18 inches; black bullhead, 

 10 inches; stonecat, 12 inches. 



Distribution. — Common bullhead, IMaine to North Dakota; 

 south to Florida; introduced into California; very common. 

 Black bullhead, northern New York to Nebraska; southward 

 to Kentucky; common, especially westward. Stonecats, 

 Great Lakes region and westward to Montana ; south to Texas ; 

 common. 



Fig. 279. — Common pickerel, Esox niger. 



Pickerels — EsocidcB 



Common or chain pickerel, Esox niger. — Pickerel live in 

 sluggish streams and in large ponds and lakes, where they 

 lurk among the weeds and beneath the lily pads. They have 

 slender bodies, long fiat heads, and projecting underjaws which 

 contribute to their sullen watchful expression (Fig. 279). 



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