FISHES OF NEW YORK 75 



of large ones. The vomer, palatine and pterygoid bones are 

 finely toothed. A small barbel at anterior nostril. Lateral line 

 continuous; through 62 scales. There are seven rows of scales 

 between dorsal and lateral line and 11 or 12 from lateral line 

 to ventral. D. 50; A. 10 or 11. 



The color in life is dark olive, the sides with greenish reticu- 

 lations, the belly whitish; round dark spots on the lower jaw 

 and gular plate. The male has a roundish black spot with an 

 orange border at the base of the caudal fin. 



The bowfin has various common names, among them mudfish, 

 dogfish, lawyer, grindle, and John-a-grindle. Its range is as ex- 

 tensive as its character is generally worthless. It is found in 

 the Great lakes and tributary streams, in the Ohio and Missis- 

 sii)pi valleys southward to Texas, and in eastern waters from 

 Pennsylvania to Florida. 



The female bowfin is larger than the male, reaching a length 

 of 2 feet, while the male seldom exceeds 18 inches. The male is 

 still further distinguished by the presence of a large black spot 

 or spots, margined with orange or crimson, at the base of the 

 tail fin. The female also has the caudal spot, but very faintly 

 developed. The greatest recorded weight of this fish is 12 

 pounds. 



Habits. This is one of the most voracious of all fishes. It 

 feeds on all other fish of suitable size and also destroys other 

 animals within reach. The capture of the bowfin by means of 

 the trolling spoon has recently come into greatly increased favor 

 with anglers because of the game qualities of the fish and its 

 wonderful tenacity of life. The species has been known to live 

 out of the water, exposed to the sunlight, 12 hours or more. 

 The young may be kept in an aquarium or other receptacle with- 

 out change of water for months. The spawning season of the 

 bowfin is in May and June, and stagnant sloughs are favorite 

 localities for this purpose. The eggs and young are protected 

 by the parents, and the young remain in the pools after the 

 falling waters cause the departure of the adults. Dr Estes, 

 who has made the best observations on the reproduction of this 



