52 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



exceeded in this particular by no fish in our waters. The writer has frequently 

 placed a minnow in the mouth of a pike just or recently landed and watched "the 

 thing swallow", which is done in great haste. Even on land, thus, is shown the 

 inordinate appetite of this veritable shark of the fresh water streams. 



Esox masquinogy Mitchell. — Skunk river, near Ames. 



While not found within our area so far as known this species is likely to be 

 found though not commonly. It is known from the Mississippi river but from the 

 locality mentioned above this is the only representative. The head of this mag- 

 nificent specimen is now preserved in the Iowa Agricultural College museum. It 

 is reported from the Squaw creek but no authentic specimen is known therefrom. 

 This form is the Esox nobilior or '• Muskalunge " of the northern waters. 



ANGUILLAD^. 



(The Eels.) 



Anguilla angiiilla var. rostrata Le Sueur. — Raccoon river, Adel; Des Moines 

 river, Des Moines. 



This species is common in the larger streams throughout our limit though most 

 common in the Des Moines. The form is anadromous, that is, it is a marine fish 

 which ascends the fresh-water streams to spawn. Very little is known of its life 

 history though its food habits have been well made out. It is extremely voracious 

 foraging most freely at night; it is commonly taken on trot lines set at night in this 

 region though the writer has several very fine specimens, including one very large 

 one, taken in the Des Moines with hook and line in the day time. 



ATHERINID^. 



(The Silversides.) 



Labidesthes sicculus Cope.— Raccoon river, Des Moines and Adel; Des Moines 

 river, at Ft. Dodge. 



The specific name of this little fish is by no means always indicative of its 

 habitat. Though common in " half dry pools," in allusion to which the name is 

 bestowed, it is very common in the Raccoon at Adel in the rapidly flowing stream 

 where the bottom is sandy. A number of specimens were there captured and had 

 their presence been suspected many more might have been taken. The snout 

 reminds one of the " pipe-fishes " of the Atlantic coast but is far less produced; of 

 course the resemblance is superficial. The fish is quite transparent, so much so 

 that the gross anatomy may be fairly made out without dissection — a feature 

 presented by at least one other fresh-water fish in our area. It is in many respects 

 our mo6.t interesting fish. 



CENTRARCHID.E. 



(The Basses.) 



Pomoxys annularis Rafinesque.— Raccoon river, Des Moines; Middle river. 



These two localities have together furnished but four or five specimens. Very 

 Taluable as a food fish, its flesh being both white and sweet, it is the delight of the 

 youthful angler. It has occurred to us only in an abandoned channel of the 

 Raccoon, in deep water, and in a deep hole in Middle river; from the circum- 

 stances of its habitat, in these localities, it would seem to prefer quiet and deep 

 muddy waters. It is a powerful swimmer, takes the hook with great eager- 

 ness and is quite gamey making it a good fish for sport. The localities 

 named are among the most northern known, the fish being a southern form. 

 The related "crappie", Pomoxi/s sparoides, has not yet been found in our limit 

 though an abundant form in the Mississippi on the eastern border of the State. 



