FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



often with round blackish spots. On the male fish 

 will be found a round black spot at the anterior 

 end of the tail fin, which spot is surrounded by an 

 orange or yellowish shade ; in the female, this 

 marking is wanting. The male fish is about one- 

 fourth smaller than the female, the maximum of 

 the former being eighteen, and of the latter twenty- 

 four inches. The air-bladder of this fish is some- 

 what lung-like, and it has the peculiar habit of 

 rising to the surface, and, without emitting any 

 air bubbles whatever, opening its jaws widely, and 

 apparently gulping down a large quantity of air. 

 These acts of respiration are more frequently 

 performed when the water is foul, and there 

 is no doubt that an interchange of oxygen and 

 carbon is effected, as in the lungs of land verte- 

 brates. 



In addition to this interesting anatomical trait, 

 the dogfish is endowed with parental love ; for it 

 takes care of its young with all the solicitude 

 shown by the black bass, the common sunfish, and 

 the much-reviled catfish. It has other interesting 

 qualities ; for it is said to get the name of dogfish 

 from its habit of barking much after the manner 

 of a dog. 



It spawns in May or June, and grows to a length 

 of two feet, and a weight of twelve pounds. The 



