FISHES OP VERMONT. 603 



49. Boleoscma nigrum olmstedi (Storer). Tessellated Darter. 



This darter is contained in Thompson's list, and it appears to be quite common in 

 Missisquoi Bay. Our collection contains a dozen examples, 1£ to If inches long, 

 from that place. It probably occurs elsewhere in the State, but we have no exact 

 information upon the matter. Thompson says: 



"The habits of this fish arc quite peculiar. It moves not from place to place by 

 an even, labored motion, like other fishes, but proceeds by sudden leaps or darts, 

 impelling itself forward by its tail and pectoral fins, which it moves as a bird does 

 its wings. It remains suspended in the water no longer than it keeps its pectoral 

 fins in rapid motion. When the motion of its fins ceases the fish sinks at once to th e 

 bottom, showing that ils specific gravity is greater than water, owing, doubtless, to 

 its want of a swimming bladder. When it reaches the bottom it alights upon its 

 stiff ventral fins, upon which it stands on the bottom, balanced with its head 

 elevated, as a bird stands on its feet. I kept several specimens of this fish alive 

 in a vessel of water for some time for the purpose of watching their motions and 

 learning their habits. They were very uneasy and seemed extremely anxious to 

 escape from their confinement. Aided by their caudal and pectoral fins in giving 

 them an impulse upward, and by their ventrals in climbing and adhering, they would 

 often raise themselves up the perpendicular sides of the vessel, entirely above the 

 surface of the water, excepting only the caudal fin. Another peculiarity of this 

 fish is its power of bending its neck and moving its head without moving the body, 

 in which respect it equals many of the reptiles. This fish is entitled to the name of 

 darter, both from its sudden motion and from its having the general form of a dart." 



In the stomach of a small .ling (14 inches long), caught by Mr. Collins in Missisquoi 

 Bay about April 23, were found at least thirty examples of this darter. 



Family SCIiENIDiE. The Drums. 



50. Aplodinotus grumiiens Rahnesque. Fresh- water Drum ; " Sheepshead." 

 "This fish is quite common in Lake Champlain, and is here generally known by 



the name of sheepshead. It is also found in the western lakes and Ohio River, where 

 it is more commonly called the white perch. This fish, taken from the Ohio River, is 

 said to be fat, tender, and well flavored; but ours is lean, tough, and bony, and 

 seldom eaten. It received its vulgar name from its resemblance in appearance to 

 the Sargus ovis, which is also called sheepshead, on account of its 'arched nose and 

 smutty face'; but the resemblance is in appearance only, for while the latter is 

 considered one of the most delicious fishes for the table, the former is seldom carried 

 to the table." 



The fresh-water drum is still a common fish in Lake Champlain, but we know 

 nothing of its occurrence elsewhere in the State. We obtained one large example 

 with Mr. Decker's seine in Missisquoi Bay July 20, and on April 25, 1896, Mr. Collins 

 sent us two examples taken in Missisquoi Bay at Swanton. One of these was an 

 unripe male 28 inches long weighing 12^ jiounds, the other a more nearly ripe male 

 19 inches long and weighing 3| pounds. Their stomachs were empty. 



Family GADIDiE. The Codfish. 



51. Lota maculosa (LeSueur). Ling; "Methy;" Cusk. 



Mr. Thompson says : 



"This fish, which is quite common in Lake Champlain and its tributaries, 1 have 

 referred to LeSueur's species the Gadus maculosus, as agreeing more nearly with his 

 description than with any other to which I have access. There are, however, 

 several differences between them. In LeSueur's species the jaws are said to be equal : 

 in ours the upper jaw is uniformly longest; in his the lateral line is said to be in the 

 middle of the body; in ours, anterior to the vent, it is much nearer the back than 

 the belly. Our fish bears considerable resemblance to the Lota brosmiana described 

 by Dr. Storer in the Boston Journal of Natural History, vol. IV, page 58. But it 



