PARENTAL CARE AMONG FRESH-WATER FISHES. 429 



the representative of a peculiar <>eiiiis (Amia), a peculiar familv 

 (Amiids), and a distinct order or suborder (Cycloganoids). But 

 although now solitary and confined to some streams and lakes in 

 North America, not long ago in geological history it had numerous 

 relatives in many parts of the world, and a few survived in Europe 

 till the Miocene period, when they had, as contemporaries there, 

 species of Lepidosteids, as have those now livmg in America. 



Although dogfish and mudfish are the names in widest use, there 

 are many other popular names in more limited acceptation, such as 

 bowfin, grindle, or, in more detail, '' John A. Grindle,'' lawyer, 

 marshfish and blackfish. Blackfish is the name current in the resi- 

 dence of the species nearest Washington and the coast cities; that is, 

 about the Dismal Swamp of Virginia. But it and all the other com- 

 iDOunds with fish are much better known to most persons and in litera- 

 ture in connection with other fishes, and consequently bowfin may be 

 advantageously used here. 



Fig. 21. — Bowfln (Amia rnlva). 



The bowfin has attracted the attention of many persons, and by 

 various zoologists it has been watched by day and night, as well as 

 when feeding and breeding, and consequently its life history is quite 

 well known. Chief of the historians of its doings are F. Fiilleborn 

 (1894), AMiitman and Eycleshymei* (1897), Bashford Dean (1898), 

 and esjjecially the latest, Jacob Reighard " (1903) . From these M-e are 

 able to derive an unusually satisfactory view of the fish. For details 

 reference may be had to the writers just named, and a brief summary 

 need only be given here. 



The bowfin is a strong and well-armed fish, both as to the bony 

 armature of the head as well as the teeth. It is one of the large fishes, 

 when fully mature attaining a length of over 2 feet, often 2i, or even 

 somewhat more. As usual among fishes, the females average larger 

 than the males. The males, apparently, are much more numerous. 



The geographical range of the bowfin is quite extensive, and yet 

 restricted in a peculiar way. It is not found in the New England 



a The quoted paragraphs not specially ar-knowledged are due to Professor 

 Reighard. 



