190 VERTEBRATA 



The catfishes have a scaleless skin, a pair or two of long 

 barbels (feelers) projecting from the upper jaw, and the 

 first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins is a stout spine with 

 which the animal can inflict serious wounds. There are 

 nearly a thousand species widely distributed over the world 

 and are highly valued as food. The great catfish of the 

 Mississippi River attains a length of five feet and weighs 

 one hundred and fifty pounds. The Bullhead or horned 

 pout (Ameiurus coins) is common in streams east of the 

 Mississippi. The eggs of some species are deposited under 

 objects in the streams and guarded by the male, while in 

 other species the eggs are carried in the mouth until 

 hatched. 



The suckers are covered with scales, have toothless jaws, 



FIG. 220. Common river Sucker (Catostomus teres). Photograph one third natural 

 size. 



and thick, fleshy lips forming a nearly circular mouth. 

 They feed on plants and small animals. The flesh is used 

 for food, but is rather coarse. 



The herringSj of which there are more than a hundred 

 species, are found in many parts of the ocean, and some 

 come to the fresh water to spawn (lay eggs). The common 

 herring (Clupea harengus), about a foot long, frequents the 

 north Atlantic coast where they associate in shoals number- 



