April, 1910. Fishes of Chicago — Meek and Hildebrand. 243 



Length about 18 inches. 



It inhabits lowland streams and ponds from Minnesota to Maine 

 and Texas. This species spawns in the spring. For some time after 

 the young are hatched they swim in a brood, accompanied by the 

 mother. A good food fish. 



Des Plaines River, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, 

 Illinois; Butterfield Creek, Elliotts Park, Illinois; Lagoon, Buffing- 

 ton, Indiana; Calumet River, Clark Junction, Indiana. 



Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque). Black Bullhead. 



Head 3.1 to 3.5 ; depth 3.1 to 3.5; D. 1-6; A. 17 to 20. 



Body robust, head large, profile slightly convex, its width i.i to 

 1.2 in its length; mouth wide, the jaws about equal; maxillary bar- 

 bels reaching to or slightly beyond gill opening; pectoral spine short, 

 rather blunt, its length 2.4 to 3.6 in head; posterior edge of pectoral 



Fig 20. Black Bullhead. 



Ameiurus melas (Raf.). (After Forbes and Richardson.) 



Spine entire or slightly roughened; seldom with 5 to 10 weak teeth 

 in adults; base of anal fin 3.9 to 4.4 in body, its free margin distinctly 

 rounded ; caudal fin slightly emarginate. 



Color dark brown or greenish to black above, becoming lighter or 

 yellowish below; anal rays very light in contrast with black inter- 

 radial membranes. 



Length 12 inches. 



Found usually with the preceding from New York to Kansas and 

 Texas, which it much resembles in appearance and habits. 



Lagoon, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, 

 Berwyn, Illinois; Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Thorn Creek, 

 Thornton, Illinois; Salt Creek, Lyons, Illinois; Hickory Creek, Marley, 

 Illinois; Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; 

 Calumet River, Clark Junction, Indiana; Lagoon, Clark, Indiana. 



