IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 107 



these lampreys in the spring: it" thought expedient, in view of the injury which 

 they are supposed to intiict on some of the food tisnes. They undoubtedly do some 

 destruction, but how much is difficult to sny. From an economical standpoint the 

 lampreys in the Cedar basin are of no importance. 



2. PelroDif/zon coucohr {Kirtiarii}). Brook Lamprey. Prof. F. Starr collected 

 this species in the Cedar River a few years a^o. I have never seen them spawning 

 although I have searched more carefully for them than for the precedine: species. 

 This species is quite frequently taken with large food fishes by fishermen on the 

 Mississippi river. 



ORDEK II, SELACIIOSTOMI. 



FAMILY 2, POLYODONTID.E (tHE PADDLE-FISHES). 



3. ^Poli/odon spatula (Walbaum). Paddle-Pish, Spoon-Bill, Duck- Billed 

 Cat, Cedar Rapids, rare, one specimen taken from the Cedar river in November, 

 1861, is in Coe College Museum. The snouts of a few individuals taken during 

 the past ten years are in the same museum. 



ORDER III, GLANIOSTOMI. 

 FAMILY 3, ACIPENSERTD.E. 



4. Scaphirhynchus plati/rrhynehits (Ra,finesque). Shovel-nosed Sturgeon. An 

 occasional specimen is taken from the Cedar river with hook baited for suckers. 



ORDER IV, GINGLYMODI. 



FAMILY 4, LEPIDOSTEID.'E (tHE GAR FISUES). 



5. Lfpidosteiis osseiis f Linnaeus). Common gar-pike. Long-nosed Gar. Com- 

 mon in the spring in the river at Cedar Rapids. They, with the (bllowing, may 

 be frequently seen from First Avenue bridge. Specimens sometimes reach a length 

 of four or five feet. Of no economical value whatever: 



6. Lepidosteiis platijstomus, [K-A^nQ^qne). Short-nosed gar-pike. Occasionally 

 seen in the river at Cedar Rapids. Scarce. 



ORDER V, HALECOMORPHI. 

 FAMILY 5, AMID.E (tHE BOWFINS). 



7. Aniia calva (Linnaeus). Dog-fish, Mud-fish, John A. Gundle. 



Very abundant in the slough, and occasionally taken from the Cedar river. Ot 

 no value except to the biologist. This species, together with the preceding, are 

 much studied and are of much interest from their relation to earlier forms and 

 for the light they throw upon the subject of evolution. 



ORDER VI, NEMATOGNATUI. 



FAMILY 6, SILURID^ (tHE CAT-FISUES). 



8. \[ctaJurus pitnctnfus (Rafinesque). Channel cat. White cat, Silver cat. 

 Common, during the months of June and July; many specimens of this species are 

 taken fiom the Cedar river with hook and line. The oest bait seems to be clotted 



WAcipenser rubicumhts (Le Sueur). Lake sturgeon. A resident of the Mississippi Val- 

 ley, and no doubt inhabits the lower part of the Cedar river, as specimens have been 

 frequently taken from the Iowa river at Iowa City. 



i Ictalwus furcatus (Cuv.&Vul.} Chuckle headed cat. A resident of the Mississippi 

 river. Not recorded from the Cedar basin. 



