and its Tributaries. 237 



It receives the name of the Gizzard-Shad from the cir- 

 cumstance that it possesses a muscular stomach, which is 

 large, and resembles the gizzard of a gallinaceous fowl. 



The older fishermen inform me, that its appearance in this 

 part of the Ohio, is comparatively rare ; it was unknown here 

 until the last twenty years. I believe it never bites at a hook. 



A singular mortality seems to have befallen this species 

 during the last few days. From the 1st to the 8th of Jan- 

 uary, of the present season, 1840, the weather was uniformly 

 cold. It then became warm and pleasant, when great num- 

 bers of this species were observed to be dead in the Miami 

 Canal. Others were still living, but in a dying condition. 

 The greater part were found with their heads crowded into 

 some hole in the muddy bank, or some recess under stones. 

 They might also have been seen under similar circumstances 

 along the shores of Mill -creek, near this city. As the mortal- 

 ity was confined exclusively to this species, while others, in- 

 habiting the same localities, were in no wise affected, it is 

 evident that it was the effect of some cause acting peculiarly 

 on these fish. 



They probably came up the Mississippi, from some warm 

 climate, and could not resist the late severe cold. 



Their object in running their heads into the holes and re- 

 cesses about the bottom of the Canal, was no doubt to obtain 

 warmth from the earth, beneath, which was of a higher tem- 

 perature than the water, abounding with numerous floats of 

 ice. 



Lucio-PERCA. Cuv. 



L. Americana. Cuv. The American Sandra. 



Le Sandre d'Amerique. (Lucio-perca Americana.') Cuv. et Val. I. 11. p. 122. 



pi. xvi. 

 Lucio-perca Americana. Richardson. Fauna Boreali-Americana, p. 10. 

 «< " Kirtland. Report on Zoology of Ohio, p. 19. 



Percafluvialilis,var? Richardson. Franklin's Journal, p. 725. 1823. 



'« salmonea. Raf. Ichthy. Ohien. p. 21. 

 P. nigro-punctata. Raf. " " p. 23. (The male.) 



Salmon of the Ohio river : Pike^ of iMke Eric : Pickerel., settlers on Lake Huron : 

 Sandre of the French Canadians : Horn fish of the Fur traders. 



Plate IX. Fig. 2. 



