46 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



are common in the city markets in the winter, beinsr seined by fishermen throuo-h 

 holes cut in the ice. At their best they are fish of slow movement and are easily 

 captured. 



Notunis exilis Nelson. — Raccoon river, Perry. 



This form has occurred but once and is represented by but a single specimen. 

 It presents no facts worthy of especial mention. 



Noturus gyrinus Mitchell.— Raccoon river, Des Moines; Des Moines river at 

 Des Moines. Rare. 



The stone cats delight in muddy bottoms, are fish of slow movement, easily 

 captured and of little or no use for food purposes. Neither of the species of 

 Noturus has been taken save rarely, but of the two forms found the last named 

 is by far the most abundant. There are several other well defined members of the 

 genus which should be found within our area and may yet be discovered on more 

 complete mvestigation. 



CATOSTOMID^. 



(The Suckers.) 



Ictiobus velifex Rafinesque. — Walnut creek; Beaver creek; Raccoon river at 

 Perry, Adel, and Des Moines; Des Moines river at Des Moines and Ft. Dodge; 

 Lizard creek; Middle river; North river. 



This is beyond doubt the most abundant of the Buffalo fishes in Iowa. Through- 

 out our area it is most common, the seine often landing several hundred pounds of 

 this fish. Like most of the suckers it is to be found abundantly in rather deep but 

 muddy water. It often attains a considerable size but does not grow to so great a 

 size as the common Buftalo of commerce, the Ictiohus ci/prinella. The form pre- 

 sents variations of note in the matter of scale formula;, length of spine on back, 

 depth, number of rays to the fins, and other features that would seem to render 

 very promising the careful study of a large number. There is no other Iowa fish 

 presenting so great variation. 



Ictiobiis (lifforiiiis (l) Cope. — Middle river, Warren county. 



This identification is somewhat doubtful but the specimens, four in all, seem to 

 belong under this form. The species has not before been recorded from Iowa 

 outside of the Missouri drainage. The determination is based upon comparison of 

 specimens received from Dr. Chas. H. Gilbert, taken at New Harmony, Indiana. 



Catostomus teres Mitchell.— Raccoon river at Des Moines, Adel and Perry; 

 Middle river; North river; Des Moines river at Des Moines and Ft. Dodge; Beaver 

 creek; Walnut creek. 



This is one of the most common suckers in the smaller streams. The young are 

 much spotted with blackish or brownish spots which almost or entirely disappear in 

 the aged specimens. It is almost useless for food because of the great number of 

 small bones, scattered apparently without order throughout the myocomraas. 



Catostonms uigricaus La Sueur. — Beaver creek; Raccoon river at Des Moines, 

 Adel and Perry; Des Moines river at Ft. Dodge and Des Moines; Middle river. 



This is an abundant form occurring all over Iowa. It has a peculiarly long- 

 snout, hog-like and distensible, and is much blotched with blackish or brown 

 pigment. It is often found in the swiftest streams, lying usually on the bottom 

 and loves best clear water. Its value as a food fish is small indeed. 



Moxostoma duquesnei Le Sueur. — Beaver creek; Des Moines'river at Ft. Dodge 

 and Des Moines; Raccoon river at Des Moines, Perry and Adel; Middle river. 



