364 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



First and foremost, from the size and peculiarity of forma- 

 tion, I will mention what the fishermen designated a "spoon- 

 bill cat-fish" a name without doubt given by some one 

 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 characterize the sal- 

 mon 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 ordi- 

 nary place; nor was the mouth large. As nature forms 

 nothing without purpose, of what use was this projection ? 

 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 Jris 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 ter- 

 mination 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 addi- 

 tion; and my informants were perfectly correct. I after- 

 ward cut up the proboscis to satisfy my curiosity, and 

 found it entirely composed of gristle, the surface under- 

 neath the skin being a labyrinth of veins. Afterward 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 ex- 

 clusively confined to inland American waters. Further, I 

 would say the vitality was remarkable, for after transport- 

 ing it home it lived for over an hour. The weight of the 

 entire fish was probably about sixteen pounds. The next 

 attraction noticed was what is familiarly known in that 



