62 FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 



of first fin; pectoral mottled brownish, bhickisli toward base, the brown en- 

 tirely on rays and not on membrane. These markings evident only in the larger 

 examples (abont 3 inches), the smaller ones having all the fins nearly trans- 

 parent; a slight brownish and darkish mottling sometimes showing at base or 

 lower half of pectoral and similar marking on soft dorsal. Most of the ex- 

 amples show 5 or 6 dark marbled cross-bands on body, though these vary 

 greatly and are not alike in any two examples; head marbled with narrow 

 streaks of brown or grayish brown, this extending posteriorly sometimes the 

 entire length of body, the bands being darker than this marbling. The colors 

 vary greatly, no two specimens being exactly alike. 



Of 10 specimens from Mud Pond Bi'ook, ranging in length from 2.37 to 2.87 

 Inches, the head in length to base of caudal ranges from 3.22 to 4.13, average 

 3.42; eye in head 3.22 to 4.50, average 3.81; length of pectoral 0.95 to 1.28, 

 average 1.12; dorsal vii or viii, IG to 20; anal 10 or 11. 



Distinguished from the eusk by its broader head and pectoral fins and the 

 presence of a small spine on the gill-cover (preopercle) and the absence of 

 barbel at tip of lower jaw. 



The names of the fish are mainly characteristic of its appearance, 

 and " millers-thumb " and " star-gazer " are obviously appropriate. 

 It is sometimes called "" brook cusk " or " rock cusk " from fancied 

 resemblance to the cusk. It is, however, not a cusk, but a fresh- 

 Avater representative of the sculpins of salt water. A good name for 

 it would be fresh-Avater sculpin. 



Its recorded range is streams of New England and New York, 

 tributaries of the Connecticut, Lake Champlain, Hudson, Delaware, 

 and Susquehanna rivers. 



In some waters this species attains a length of several inches, but 

 the majority of the individuals are small, though somewhat larger 

 than those collected in First Lake. 



It feeds mostly upon insects, insect larvae, and other small aquatic 

 animals, and has been accused of eating fish ova and newly hatched 

 young. The stomachs of some collected in Mud Pond Brook, July 

 12, contained insect larvae, mostly of the black fly. The blob is itself 

 sometimes eaten by other fishes, and might make a useful bait. 



The easiest method of catching it is by means of a wire minnow 

 trap. 



22. Burbot. Lota maculosa (Le Sueur). 



Head 4.03 in length without tail; eye 9.54 in head, snout 4.06; dorsal 14-74; 

 anal 71 ; scales 240. 



Head depressed, rather broad; anterior nostrils each with a small barbel; 

 chin with a long barbel; snout and lower parts of head naked; mouth moderate, 

 the distance from tip of snout to posterior extremity of maxillary 2.23 in head ; 

 lower jaw includol, mandible 2.01 in head ; each jaw with broad bands of equal 

 villiform teeth ; vomer with a broad crescent-shaped band of teeth ; no teeth 

 on palatines ; gill-openings wide and connected, but free from isthmus ; 

 branchiostegals 8 on right side and 7 on left; gillrakers short 1+7 on right 

 side and 1+8 on left. Body long and low, somewhat depressed in front, com- 



