70 CHECK LIST OF THE 



except Lake Erie and the Georgian Bay, where it is quite common. Its 

 northern range is not yet clearly defined, but does not probably extend 

 beyond the height of land. 



Spawning takes place early in spring, soon after the ice goes out, in 

 shallow water about the reed beds. Here the females deposit a large 

 number of eggs, from which the fry hatch in from fifteen to thirty days, 

 according to temperature. 



The "Lunge" is, except at pairing time, a solitary fish, usually lying 

 concealed among aquatic plants at the sides of channels, or in open lakes, 

 beneath shelving rocks, from whence it darts upon every living thing 

 unfortunate enough to come within its reach and small enough to become 

 its prey. 



When taken in the autumn, at which time it is in high condition, its 

 flesh is firm, flaky and of good flavour, and its fighting qualities at their 

 very best. In summer it affords comparatively little sport and its flesh is 

 apt to taste weedy. 



Under favourable circumstances Mascallonge attain an immense size, 

 fish of eighty to one hundred pounds' weight having been taken in various 

 places. We do not often see such monsters now, but specimens ranging 

 from thirty to fifty pounds are captured every season. 



Family PQiCILIID.-E. (The Killifishes.) 



Body oblong, or moderately elongate, compressed behind, depressed 

 forward, covered with rather large cycloid scales, which are adherent and 

 regularly arranged. Lateral line wanting or represented by a few imper- 

 fect pores. Head scaly at least above. Mouth terminal, small, the lower 

 jaw usually projecting ; margin of the upper jaw formed by the premaxil- 

 laries only ; premaxillaries strong, extremely protractile. Teeth incisor- 

 like or villiform, sometimes present on the vomer, but usually in the jaws 

 only ; lower pharyngeals separate, with cardiform or rarely molar teeth ; 

 third upper pharyngeal enlarged, the fourth wanting or united to the third. 

 Gill membranes somewhat connected, free from isthmus ; gill rakers very 

 short, thick. Branchiostegals four to six. Pseudobranchiae none. Dorsal 

 fin single, inserted posteriorly, of soft rays only, rarely with a single spine, 

 or rudimentary spinous dorsal ; caudal fin not forked ; ventral fins abdom- 

 inal, rarely wanting; pectoral fins inserted low; no adipose fin. Stomach 

 siphonal, without pyloric appendages. Air bladder simple, often wanting. 

 Basis cranii simple. Sexes usually unlike, the fins being largest in the 

 males, but in some species the females are much the larger. 



Genus FUNDULUS. (Killifishes.) 



Body rather elongate, little elevated, compressed behind ; mouth mod- 

 erate, the lower jaw projecting; jaws each with two or more series of 



