66 Catalogue of the Fishes of Connecticut. 



*70. Maltheea nasuta, Cuv., Short-nosed Malthea, L. I. Sound? 



Family Labridce. 



*71. Labrus Americanus, Bloch, Black Fish, common. 



*72. Crenilabrus ceruleus, Mitchill, Conner, Burgall, common. 



Soft-Rayed Fishes. 

 Order II. Abdominal. 



if 



Family Siluridce. 

 *73. Galeichthys marinus, Mitchill, Oceanic Cat-Fish, Long 



Island Sound ? 



*74 Pimelodus nebulosus, Le Sueur, Horned Pout, Bullhead, 



common. 



Family Cyprinidce. 



75. Cyprinus auratus, Linn., Golden Carp, introduced. 



76. Cyprinus carpio, Linn., Common Carp, introduced. 



*77. Lebias ovinus, Mitchill, Sheepshead Killfish, L.I.Sound. 



*70. On the authority of Dr. Dekay, this maltheea has a wide geographical range, 

 from the Caribbean Sea to the coast of Labrador. 



*7l. The greatest or most distinguished locality for the capture of the common 

 black-fish, on our whole Atlantic coast, is at the Middle Ground already mentioned. 

 It is south of Stratford and Bridgeport, and about the middle of Long Island Sound. 

 The largest of this species are caught by hand, while on the top of the water, and 

 apparently incapable of descending. Mr. Trumbull mentions several being thus 

 taken at Stonington, some of which weighed 16 lbs., 18 lbs., and 22 lbs. Fisher- 

 men imagine they belong to very deep water, and that the bladder is so large by 

 coming into warmer water, that when they by accident are brought to the top, 

 they have no power to sink, and are thus taken by hand. It is indeed extraordina- 

 ry that none but the very largest of the species are found floating, and thus incapa- 

 ble of descending. It affords an interesting query for naturalists, what really con- 

 stitutes this incapacity for descent or escape from being taken by the hand, on the 

 surface of their native element, when apparently in perfect health and vigor. 



*72. There is a great variety of coloring in the burgall, and this has doubtless 

 induced Dr. Dekay to constitute his new species, * uninotatus ;" specimens of 

 which may always be taken in any large collection of the true species, and of 

 which we doubtless have but one, as indicated by Dr. Storer. 



*73. The cat-fish is inserted here on the authority of Dr. Dekay, who states that 

 it has been found from 23 to 41 deg., N., and is frequently abundant in New York 

 harbor, and is, therefore, probably in the Sound. 



v 74. I have taken this fish in many parts of the State, and as far north as Salis- 

 bury lakes, and usually from 8 to 12 inches in length. The popular name in 

 Connecticut is the bull-head. The largest I have seen were from Thatchervilie 

 Factory-pond, near Bridgeport, over 12 inches long. 



•77. Mr. Ayres found this fish abundant on the shore opposite Stratford, at Old 

 Man's Harbor. He believes, however, the ovinus of Mitchill to be only the 

 young of eUipsoides of Le Sueur, and of course both names include but one species. 



