LAMPREYS AND FISHES OF INDIANA. 179 



Distributed from New York to Western Kansas. It is doubtless found 

 in every stream and considerable pond in the State, Vigo County {16, 

 '94) ; Carroll County (23, '88, 44) ; Lake Maxinkuckee (23, '88, 55) ; 

 Monroe County (1, '85, 410) ; Indianapolis (1, '77, 377) ; Brown County 

 (23, '84, 199);' Greene County (23, 84, 206); New Harmony (4, '88, 

 162) ; Eel River at Cataract (4, '88, 167) ; Laporte County (24, '93, 80) ; 

 Tippecanoe River at Wiuaraac. 



This species, like most of its relatives, .is a lover of muddy streams and 

 ponds. Concealed in such places, it lies in wait for its prey, which is 

 probably anything that can be swallowed. Forbes (14, No. 2, 82) found 

 the stomach of one specimen to be filled with vegetable matter, mostly 

 confervoid algoe. Another contained insects and young crayfishes. A 

 specimen taken by myself at Winaraac on June 30 was much distended 

 with spawn. Probably it was aliout ready to 'be deposited. I recom- 

 mend lo all a reading of the remarks of the editor of the Milwaukee Sun 

 on the bullhead, which were reprinted in Dr. Jordan's" Fishes of Ohio," 

 page 794. 



A:\IEIURUS NIGRICANS (LeS.). 



Misslidppi Cat-fish; Great Gat- fish. 



Jordan, 1888, 7, 39; Idalurus lacnstrls, Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, S, 

 108; / nigricans and I pondemstis, Jordan, 1884, 12, 627, 628. 



Body rather elongated ; depth in length about five times. Tail deeply 

 forked. Head wMth the lateral outlines gradually curving to the snout; 

 the width across- the opercles in length of head and body five and one- 

 half times. Length of head in the length of head aud body, four. Snout 

 nearly three times in head. The upper jaw considerably projecting be- 

 yond the lower. Diameter of eve in head seven or eight times. Anal 

 large; its rays twenty-five to thirty-five; its base in length of head and 

 body about four. May attain a maximum length of five feet and a 

 weight of one hundred and fifty pounds. 



Distributed in the larger bodies of water from the region of the Great 

 Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Lake Michigan (Jordan, 14, No. 2, 66). 

 Dr. B. W. Evermann (23, '88, 44), reports having frequently seen it in 

 the upper Wabnsh River. Prof. Milner states that in the Great Lakes 

 it occupies the zone from shore to twenty fathoms I have seen the spe- 

 cies for sale at market in Madison, on the Ohio. LeSueur appears 

 to have seen it in the Ohio aud Wabas-h rivers (17, XV, 138). On ac- 

 count of its grear size aud abundance, it takes rank as one of our im- 

 portant food-fishes. Its flesh, however, is said to be rather coarse and 

 somewhat devoid of flavor. It lives to some extent at least on other 

 fishes. 



