370 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



who knew as little about genus and species as a cow 

 does about a watch-pocket. This curious fish was 

 beautifully shaped, with all those perfections that 

 characterise the salmon family ; but projecting from 

 his head was a muscular continuation about sixteen 

 inches long and six broad in the centre, not unlike the 

 blade of a canoe-paddle. This spoon-bill was entirely 

 separated from and projecting over and independent 

 of the mouth, the lower jaw being in its ordinary 

 place ; nor was the mouth large. As nature forms 

 nothing without purpose, of what use was this projec- 

 tion ? My own idea is that it was a feeler, used in 

 poking about through the weeds, decayed vegetation, 

 and mud : and by its sensitiveness the fish was enabled 

 to find his food. On handling this rara piscis, I found 

 that the slightest pressure on this attachment appeared 

 to produce intense pain. The skin was entirely free 

 from scales from the tail to the termination of the 

 projection, and was very smooth and soft, not at all 

 dissimilar to that of an eel. For a trifle I secured the 

 prize, as I was assured he was an excellent table 

 addition, and my informants were perfectly correct. I 

 afterwards cut up the proboscis to satisfy my curiosity, 

 and found it entirely composed of gristle, the surface 

 underneath the skin being a labyrinth of veins. After- 

 wards I saw, at different times, many of this curious 

 family, thus proving that they are in no way rare ; 

 still, I have never seen them mentioned by naturalists. 

 Probably it is exclusively confined to inland American 

 waters. Further, I would say the vitality was re- 

 markable, for after transporting it home it lived for 

 over an hour. The weight of the entire fish was 

 probably about sixteen pounds. The next attraction 



