A SYNOPTIC LIST OF THE FISHES KNOWN TO 

 OCCUR WITHIN 50 MILES OF CHICAGO. 



BY S. E. MEEK AND S. F. HILDEBRAND. 



Owing to the many changes being made in this region on account 

 of the growth of the city, the local fish fauna and its consequent 

 changes are interesting. The present paper is intended to afford 

 students of the local fish-fauna, in and about Chicago, a ready means 

 for the identification of fishes which they may collect, and thus assist 

 in the study of their distribution, breeding and feeding habits, etc. A 

 considerable amount of study along these lines is necessary before one 

 is able to prepare a complete account of the fishes of this region. 



In the following pages is given a list, together with keys and brief 

 descriptions, of the fishes which inhabit the lakes, streams, and la- 

 goons in and near Chicago. The general range of each species is. 

 given, and a list of localities where each has been taken in the area in 

 question. Many of the descriptions have been drawn directly from 

 specimens taken within the area under discussion, and all have been 

 verified by the junior author with local material, so far as available. 

 In the preparation of this paper free use has been made of previous 

 publications by various authors. Considerable assistance has been 

 received from Dr. Shelford, Dr. Riddle, and their students from the 

 University of Chicago, also from Mr. A. P. Ford (formerly of Berwyn, 

 Illinois), chemist for the Crane Iron Works, Bridgeport, Conn. 



Most of the illustrations used in this work are by permission of 

 its authors, taken from "The Fishes of Illinois," by S. A. Forbes and 

 R. E. Richardson; some are made from photographs of colored 

 plates, the others from cuts kindly loaned by Dr. Forbes. A few 

 illustrations are taken from U. S. Government publications. 



It is hoped that the present paper may stimulate the study of 

 our local fishes and so be the forerunner of a much more complete 

 account of them. 



The following notes and the accompanying figure are given to 

 explain the terms used in the descriptions: 



I. Head. 2. Snout. 3. Eye. 4. Premaxillary. 5. Maxilla^v. 

 6. Supplemental maxillary. 7. Mandible, or lower jaw. 8. S nphysis. 



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