430 PAHENTAL CAEE AMONG FKESH-WATER PISHES. 



States (except in Lake Champlain) nor m the waters, flowing east- 

 ward, of the Middle States, but it is an inhabitant of the Great Lakes 

 (except Superior) and of theMississippibasin, as well asof the South- 

 ern States up to Virginia and the Dismal Swamp. 



Sluggish waters are its favorite haunts, and a couple of its names — 

 mudfish and marshfish — indicate places in which they ma}^ be found. 

 But, as Dean has recognized, " the general habitat of the fish varies 

 at different seasons of the year. In summer it frequents deeper 

 water; in spring it comes into the marshy shallows and makes its 

 way through reed}^ places Avhere the w^ater is scarcely deep enough 

 to cover the dorsal fin." For winter quarters, like the carp, it 

 selects deeper water. Ayers found it '' in schools closely huddled 

 together in the bottom of pockets or shallow depressions of the 

 gravelly beds " of Lake Oconomowoc (Wisconsin) " among the 

 water weeds." In such places the fishes may " lie so close together 

 that occasionally two individuals are impaled on the fish-spear by 

 one throw." When disturbed by such intrusion, ''they scatter from 

 their resting-places, moving out a short distance to return quickly 

 f:fter the first few disturbances." Doubtless during the cold weather 

 they cease to feed and live on the fatty stores they accumulated dur- 

 ing the summer. 



The bowfin is a more or less nocturnal animal, but stirring mainly 

 about the beginning and end of night. After considerable observa- 

 tion. Dean concluded that it " is rather to be regarded as active at 

 twilight. It takes the hook best shortly after sundown and during 

 early morning.'' At sucli times it is " exceedingly active under 

 natural conditions."" 



Voracity is characteristic of the boAvfin, and smaller fishes and 

 crayfishes are its chief prey. Some of its victims may be half as long 

 as itself, but generally they are considerably smaller. Its approach 

 to pre}^ is rather slow and stealthy ; but when near enough it quickly 

 darts and seizes the object which it has neared. According to 

 Hallock, one has " been known to bite a two-pound fish clean in two 

 the very first snap." As a rule the object must show evidence of life 

 to render it desirable. Dean at least " found no evidence that the 

 dogfish eats fish, or, more accurately, some fishes, after they are 

 dead," and " dead perch and sunfish remain untouched " where the 

 fish " is very abundant." Nevertheless it sometimes takes advantage 

 of " a rubbish heap in the water," and " scraps of meat and a lump 

 of raw potato have been found in the stomach of one." 



When warm weather sets in, the bowfin leaves its winter quarters 

 and begins to make good the loss of flesh incurred during the winter. 

 The impulse to perform their procreative duties is soon felt and the 

 sexes show" the effects. The females become heavy with ripening 

 eggs, but retain the dull colors of Avinter. The males assume a bril- 



