BRIEF NOTES ON FISHES. 425 



that all the other fishes leave in disgust, and seek the 

 bubbling springs, or bury themselves in the mud. This 

 latter is a trick of many fishes that are not supposed to 

 have any liking for either mud or " thick " water. 



Adult mullet differ from the young of one or two 

 summers in being strictly nocturnal. Throughout the 

 day they remain quietly at rest among the weeds in the 

 bottom of the creek or ditch, but on the approach of dark- 

 ness they are full of activity, and not only wander to and 

 fro through the water, but come to the surface and even 

 leap above it. The change is very great. It is during 

 this excited state, or throughout the night, that these fish 

 utter audible sounds which will be referred to in a subse- 

 quent page. 



There are two well defined species of cat-fish common 

 to the river and creeks about here, and it often happens 

 that an apparent third species is found ; but this I am 

 inclined to consider is merely a hybrid. 



Of these, the first is the common white cat-fish. This 

 is exceedingly abundant in the river and in all running 

 waters. Such localities it prefers indeed, are essential 

 to it and once out of them, it promptly suffers much 

 discomfort. It is due to this fact, I suppose, that it is 

 far less tenacious of life than the other species. 



In the river, the white cat-fish, which by the way is 

 often glossy black, and sometimes mottled, is usually 

 found associated with the schools of white perch, when 

 the latter are coming up the river. The cat-fish, however, 

 do not migrate, as do the perch. So far as I have been 

 able to learn by questioning old fishermen, there is no 

 one time of the year when they are more abundant than 

 at others. 



These fish, it would seem, have been utilized by some 



