240 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Lucius VERMicuLATUs (LeSueur). 

 Little Pickerel. 



Esox sabnoneus, Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, 8, 352 ; E. vermicidatus, 

 Meek and Newland, 1, 1884, 369 (synonoray) ; E. umbrosus, Jordan, 

 1884, 12, 464, pi. 184. 



Form that of its relatives. Depth, in the length 'five to six times. 

 Head comparatively short, the length in that of the fish three and one- 

 half times. Snout shorter than the rest of the head ; the eye being ex- 

 actly in the middle of the length of the head. Cheeks and opercles 

 entirely covered with scales. Branchiostegals eleven or twelve. Scales 

 along the lateral line about one hundred and five. Dorsal rays fourteen ; 

 anal eleven. Color olive or gray. On the sides are usually numerous 

 bands of brown, irregular in breadth and direction ; often forming a net- 

 work and sometimes traflsverse bands. A black streak running dowu- 

 Avard from the eye. Length attained about one foot. 



Found throughout the Mississippi Valley, entering the Great Lakes. 

 Very abundant in Indiana, in all portions of the State. Ohio ^ River 

 (9, 9, 42); Wabash River {17, XVIII, 335); New Harmony U, '88* 163); 

 Monroe County {1, '85, 410); Carroll County (23, '88, 49); Marion 

 County, Lakes of Laporte County, St. Joseph's River, Maumee River, 

 Tippecanoe River (1, '17, 44) ; Greene County (2S, '84, 208} ; Kankakee 

 River at Plymouth (4, '88, 156) ; Marshall and Whitley counties (4, '88, 

 159) ; Owen County (4, '88, 167); Winamac ; Eel River sys'em {J, '94, 

 38). For a few additional localities see, 24, '93, 95. 



Prof. Furbes found the food of this species to consist almost wholly of 

 the larger aiiuatic insect larvte and the smaller fishes in almost e(|ual 

 ratio, together with an occasional larva of batrachians. Like the other 

 members of the family, in proportion to its size and strength this fish is 

 active and ravenous. The larger specimens serve for food, but as a food- 

 fish, it does not amount to much.* 



'■'- Under the name Exox ravcnelH/ Prof. S. A. Forbes in Dr. .Jordan'.s "Catalogue of the 

 Fishes of Illinois," has described a pickerel, two and seven-eighths inches long, which agrees 

 well with LuciHH reticidafus, a species which, until recently, has been regarded a^ an inhabi- 

 tant only of the region east of the Allegh.Tny Mountains. Since ishas, however, been taken 

 lately in Arkansas, it is quite probable that Prof. Forbes' specimen belonged to this species. 

 In such case, its occurrence in Indiana is not improbable. 



In L. rfticidatus the cheeks and opercles are wholly covered with scales. There are usu- 

 ally fifteen branchiostegals. Dorsal rays fourteen; anal rays thirteen. Scales along the 

 lateral line one hundred and twenty-ftve. The front of the eye is at the middle of the head. 

 The dark lines on the sides are reticulated, but mostly form more or less longitudinal l)ands. 

 The length becomes as much as two feet. 



