294 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



2. Yellow Cat. Ameiurus natalis. 



One hundred and twenty-two specimens of this species were 

 obtained, all but 10 of them from Lost Lake. Such of the food as 

 could be recognized consisted entirely of small fish and crawfish, 

 but in the great majority of cases nothing could be distinguished. 

 This species is the true host of Argulus maculosus and more than 

 60 specimens were obtained, nearly half of the. fish examined being 

 infested with the parasite. On the yellow cat, also, a new species 

 of Ergasilus E. versicolor, was more abundant than on the bull- 

 head. Leeches were commonly found in the mouth and around 

 the lips, and occasionally on the fins, while nearly every specimen 

 showed trematodes and many of them Acanthocephali in the stom- 

 ach. 



3. Common Bullhead. Ameiurus nebulosus. 



Twenty specimens were examined, half of which were caught 

 in Lake Maxinkuckee and the other half in Lost Lake. 



Partially digested fish were found in the stomachs of four speci- 

 mens; in a fifth many seeds of the water lily, Castalia odorata, 

 while in the remainder there was a small mass of indistinguishable 

 animal remains. About one fish out of four proved to be the host 

 of Argulus maculosus, three or four of these parasites being ob- 

 tained from the outside surface and fins of a single fish. A single 

 leech was found fastened to the lip of the fish in three specimens ; 

 on the gill-filaments of eight others were a very few specimens 

 (only 12 in all) of a new species of Ergasilus, which has been 

 named E. versicolor, and which will be found described on page 

 341, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 39. In the stomach of nearly every 

 fish were found trematodes and Acanthocephali. 



4. Mad Tom. Schilbeoties gyrlnus. 



The stomachs of the specimens examined contained beach- 

 fleas, which are very common in the lake. The mad toms lie 

 among the Chara where these Crustacea are plentiful. 



We thus see that the cat-fishes as a whole are omnivorous, eat- 

 ing both animal and vegetable food. The larger cats feed mainly 

 on small fish and crawfish, while the smaller ones eat the smaller 

 Crustacea. 



5. Buffalo-fish. Ictiobus cyprinella. 



A single specimen of this large sucker was found dead and float- 

 ing at the surface in one of the deeper parts of the lake. 



It had not been dead more than an hour or two when secured, 

 and so was practically freshly caught. It measured 4 feet in 

 length and 3 feet in girth, and weighed 75 pounds. 



