478 



VEJiTEBRATA. 



lis), conunon in every pond and stream throutrhoiit the temperate parts of North America. It 

 is c-umnHmiy Jissoeiated witli the little Pond-Fis.i, or Sin-Fish, Poniotis vuhjaris, already men- 

 tioned, an.rthe Vki.i.ow Perch, /^/awsccns. „ . n ,• T 

 anius COr.ITlS: Cobitls, includes the Loach, C. barbatula, aomeUme^ called Beardie. It 



feeds on worms and aquatic insects, 

 spawns in March or April, delights in 

 small, shallow, clear streams, and has the 

 habit of lurkina: under stones. It is noted 



THB LOACH. 



for having six barbules about the mouth. 

 Yarrell remarks that " fishes thus provided 

 are known to feed at or near the bottom 

 of the water, and it has been stated in 

 this work that those species which reside constantly so near the bottom as to acquire the name 

 of ground-fish, have a low standard of respiration and a high degree of muscular irritability. In 

 the'' animals possessing this duration of the power of muscular contractility, as the eels, flat-fish, 

 and many others, the'i-e is reason to believe there exists also great susceptibility of any change 

 tliat occurs in the electiiral relations of the medium in which they reside ; the restless move- 

 ments of eels and other ground-fish during thunder, receive at least a probable explanation in the 

 l)elief tliat no alteration in the weather takes place without some previous change in the elec- 

 trical state of the atmosphere, which by quality or quantity may afltect the water. 



" The Chinese, who breed and rear great quantities of gold carp, find that thunder does them 

 harm, and even sometimes kills them. Pennant says that lobsters fear thunder, and are apt to 

 cast their claws after a loud clap. These eftects may be referred to spasmodic action of the 

 muscles, induced by electrical influence. If fishes of opposite habits, such as surface-swimmers 

 and ground-fish, are put together into the same vessel of water, and a slight galvanic discharge 

 be passed through the fluid, the ground-fish, witb the lowest degree of respiration, will be the 



most agitated." 



Gemis LABEO : Laheo, includes several American species with fleshy lips, often crenated. They 

 are of little value for the table. The Chub-Sucker, L. eler/ans, is eight inches long; dark bluish | 

 above, beneath whitish, with pink suff"usions along the abdomen ; little esteemed for food, but 

 common in the New York market in autumn. The Brilliant Chub-Sucker, L. oblonffus, is six 

 to twelve inches long; a beautiful species, appearing in our markets in December. It is famil 

 iarly known under the name of Chub. The Long-finned Chub-Suckek, L. cyjorinus^ is twelve 

 to twenty inches long ; resembles the carp of Europe, and is popularly called Carj) ; found in 

 the rivers of "Western New Jersey, and in the Susquehannah. The Gibbous Chub-Sucker, L. 

 pibbosiis, is seven to twelve inches long ; common in the fresh-water streams of New York. The 

 Round-backed Chub-Sucker, L. esopus, is ten to twelve inches long; found in the interior of 

 New York. 



Genus CATOSTOMUS : Catosfomus, includes only American species, having thick, fleshy 

 lips, which are crenated or plaited ; the lower lip is pendant. The Common Sucker, C. communis, 

 is twelve to fourteen inches long ; the head is smooth and scaleless ; the scales of the body reticu- 

 late ; body dark purplish above, with pink and metallic tints on the sides, frequently with a 

 resplendent golden hue extending over the abdomen ; beneath white. The flesh is insipid, but 

 it is common in the New York markets. 



The Oneida Sucker, C. OnenZa, is twelve inches long; dark blue above; beneath whitish ; 

 common in Oneida Lake, where it is called Mullet and Sucker. The Horned Sucker, C. tuber- 

 culatus, is seven to ten inches long; common in the New England and Middle States, and is 

 called Barbel, Dace, and Horned Dace. The Pale Sucker, C. pallidas, is nine to ten inches 

 long ; it is a common species, abundant near Peekskill. The Mullet Sucker, C. aureolus, is 

 twelve to eighteen inches long ; is indiff"erent food ; goes by the names of Mullet, Golden 

 Mullet, and Red Horse. De Kay says he has seen them full of worms in August and Sejv 

 tember. Common in Lake Erie. The Black Sucker, C. nigricans, is thirteen to twenty inches 

 long, and is common in Lake Erie, where it has the whimsical name of Shoemaker. It is 



