FISHES OF MINNESOTA 75 



Genus COTTUS (Artedi) Linnffius. 



Cottus ictalops (Rafinesque). Miller's Thumb. Blob. Muffle-jaw. 



General color dark brown or grayish, lighter below, often barred 

 or dotted. Body rather stout, tapering towards the tail; head 

 large and much flattened above, wide through the opercular region; 

 preopercle with a sharp, short spine, which is directed backwards 

 and upwards; subopercle with a spine which is directed forwards. 

 Skin smooth, except just back of the pectoral fins, where it is often 

 covered with sharp prickles; lateral line present. First dorsal fin 

 low and weak; pectorals very large, about equal to the head in 

 length. Head contained 3^ times in the length. Depth 4 to 6. 

 Dorsal fin VI to VIII-IG or 17. Anal about 12. Ventrals each I, 

 4. Length 3 to 7 inches, usually small. 



A common fish in the northern part of the state. Numerous 

 specimens have been taken in the Upper Mississippi and tribu- 

 taries (Nat. Hist. Surv., 1893-5); Upper Mississippi (Woolman & 

 Cox, 1894). 



Family GIADID^. The Cod-fishes. 



Body long, rather slender; heavy anteriorly, compressed pos- 

 teriorly. Scales small, or even wanting, cycloid; gill membranes 

 free from the isthmus. Dorsal fin very long, extending almost the 

 entire length of the back and in some species divided into two; no 

 spines present in any of the fins; caudal fin rounded; ventral fins 

 inserted far forward. Four gills, with a slit behind the fourth ; no 

 pseudobranchia present. Pyloric caeca numerous in some species; 

 air bladder generally well developed. 



This well known family is represented by but one genus and one 

 species in the state, it being the only species found in fresh water. 



Genus LOTA (Cuvier). 



Lota maculosa (Le Sueur). Burbot. Lawyer. Ling. 



General color dark olive, much mottled with blackish; lower 

 parts yellowish; general color becoming more yellowish in 

 the adult; young often with a red band on the dorsal 

 fin, the outer edge of the fin dusky. Body long and heavy ante- 

 riorly, compressed posteriorly; head rather small, depressed and 

 broad, and a barbel on each of the anterior nostrils ; mouth moder- 

 ate, lower jaw not projecting; maxillary extending to the posterior 

 edge of the eye; jaws set with weak teeth, wiiich are very numerous 



