332 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



found under sticks and stones. The species is capable of in- 

 flicting a very painful sting, as it has a poison gland at the base 

 of the pectoral spine. According to Prof. H. D. Reed it also has 

 poison glands under the skin surrounding the pectoral and dorsal 

 spines.* 



The food of this species consists mainly of small crustaceans 

 and insect larvae. One of 2 examples raked up in Chara November 

 25, 1904, contained a small beach flea and the other an Asellus ; of 

 4 examples raked up in Chara in Outlet Bay, December 21, 1904, 

 one, 1.19 inches long, contained a large water flea and an ostracod 

 (Cypris), another 1.125 inches long, contained 2 ostracods and a 

 few other entomostraca ; the third, 1.875 inches long, had eaten a 

 good-sized insect larva and an ostracod ; the fourth, 1.25 inches 

 long, contained a worm and 2 ostracods. One example, 2.31 inches 

 long, examined in the summer, contained 5 individuals of Asellus, 

 and another contained beach fleas. Stomachs of 2 examined May 

 7, 1901, contained may-fly larvae and larvae of Chironomus. 



The species apparently spawns in June and July. One found 

 dead on the shore by Lakeview Hotel, May 18, was much distended 

 with ova; the eggs were yellow, large (11 to the inch) and about 

 50 in number. Another example, 2.63 inches long, taken in the 

 lake July 10, contained 93 mature eggs each about 1/15 of an inch 

 in diameter. All the others examined in July were either spent 

 fish or immature individuals. 



Head 3.9 ; depth 5 ; eye 6 ; snout 3 ; D. I, 6 ; A. 13 ; body short 

 and thick, the head large, its width 3.5 to 4.5 in body; posterior 

 part of body compressed ; spines stout and long, that of the pectoral 

 straight, grooved behind, but not serrated, its length about 2^ 

 in distance from snout to origin of dorsal ; dorsal higher than long, 

 inserted nearer anal than snout; jaws about equal; humeral process 

 short; adipose fin continuous with the pointed caudal. 



Color uniform yellowish brown, sometimes blackish; a narrow 

 dark lateral streak and one or more dorsal ones. 



10. COMMON BUFFALO-FISH 



ICTIOBUS CYPRINELLA (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 



The Buffalo-fish was formerly abundant in the larger streams 

 of the Mississippi Valley, and was also plentiful in many of the 

 lakes in that region. In Lake Maxinkuckee it appears to be rare ; 

 only one example was seen during the course of our investigations. 



* The poison glands of Noturus and Schilbeodes, by Hugh Daniel Reed, Amer. Nat., XLI, 

 1907, pp. 553-567. 



