LAMPREYS AND FISHES OF INDIANA. 293 



Family GADID^E. 

 THE COD-FISHES. 



This family differs from all the other Acauthopteri described in this 

 work in having the fins without spines. The doi'sal is long and is often 

 -divided into two or three portions. The anal is also long and may be 

 divided. The ventrals are jugular in position. The scales are small and 

 cycloid. 



A large family, most of whose members are confined to the seas of the 

 Northern Hemisphere. Represented in our waters by a single species. 



Genus LOTA Cuvier. 



Body elongated, low, somewhat compressed behind. Covered with 

 small, imbedded scales, which extend up on the vertical fins. Head de- 

 pressed. Chin and each anterior nostril with a barbel. Teeth on the 

 vomer, but none on the palatines. Dorsal fins two, the first short. Anal 

 single 



Lota maculosa (LeS.). 

 Burbot ; Ling. 



Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, <9, 802; T. H. Bean, 1888, 12, 235; pi. 

 61; Smith, 1892, 4, 215, pi. 50 ; Lota lota, Jordan, 1888, 7, 162. 



Body long and slender, compressed behind, low in front. Depth in 

 the length about six times. Head small, rather flattened and broad ; 

 contained in the length about four and one-half to five times. Mouth 

 large, the maxillary reaching to the posterior border of the orbit. Eye 

 small. Scales very small and imbedded. Pectoral fins broad, nearly 

 twice the length of the head. Ventrals reaching half-way to the vent, 

 composed of about six rays. Dorsal rays 13-76 ; anal rays 68. Caudal 

 rounded. Color dai-k olive, with mottlings of blackish, the latter more 

 distinct in the younger specimens. The lower surface dusky or yellow- 

 ish. Length about two feet. 



Artie seas southward in diminishing numbers to the Ohio River. It is 

 probably moderately common in Lake Michigan. Ohio River (Jordan, 

 10, 74, 226) ; New Albany (^Jordan, 3, 996). 



Forbes (14, Vol. II, 433) states that the Ling has made its way from 

 Lake Michigan into the Illinois and Mississippi rivers since the opening 

 of the canals between the lake and the rivers. It is said to feed on 

 various small fishes and crustaceans which frequent the bottoms. It is 

 ■extremely voracious and has wonderfully distensible stomach. It 

 captures such active fishes as the pike and the perch. The most com- 

 monly taken fish is the yellow perch. It is said also to swallow stones at 

 times. Milner (11, ' 72-3) says that this fish is sometimes found at a depth 



