NATURAL HISTOKY, TORONTO REGION 



which the parents keep guard, the male being most 

 assiduous in the work of protection. In about a 

 week the eggs are hatched, and the young, which look 

 very like little black tadpoles, follow the parent fish 

 along the shores until nearly the middle of July, 

 when they are left to shift for themselves ; after this 

 the fry soon scatter and disappear into deep weedy 

 water. They grow rapidly, and under favorable cir- 

 cumstances are said to attain maturity in three years. 

 The Catfish is an omnivorous feeder, nothing in the 

 shape of animal food being beneath its notice, nor 

 is it particular where it obtains its food, for I have 

 taken it at all depths, from the surface of the water 

 to the bottom, though its general habit is to grub 

 about on the mud, seeking for what it may devour. 

 As an article of food this fish does not rank in the 

 first class in the estimation of most people; there 

 are others, however, who prefer it to any of the 

 so-called " coarse fish," while to the small boy who 

 goes fishing it is a source of endless delight and a 

 joy forever. 



5. Stone Catfish. Noturus flavus (Rafinesque). 

 This species is found in the larger streams falling 

 into Lake Ontario, but is not common. It is an 

 unpleasant fish to handle because of the painful 

 wounds produced by its pectoral spines. There is 

 a minute pore at the base of the pectoral spine which 

 is the outlet of a noxious fluid secreted by a poison 

 gland. When this poison is discharged into a wound 

 it causes a very painful sore. 

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