2^8 Wisco7isin Academy of Sciences, Arts^and Letters. 

 WATER PUPPY. 



{Menohranclius laternlis say.) 

 Bt p. E. Hot, M. D. 



DESCRIPTIOK 



Entire length of large female 14 incheg. Head 2 inches long 

 and If broad. Body, including head, to vent, 10 inches. Tail 4 

 inches to vent ; breadth of tail, If. The male smaller, from 10 

 to 11 inches in length. Head large, flattened above. Snout 

 truncated. Ejes small, placed far apart. Nostrils lateral, near 

 the margin of the upper lip. Two rows of small teeth in the 

 upper, and one single row in the lower jaw. Mouth large. Lips 

 fleshy. Tongue broad, entire, free at the point. Neck con- 

 tracted and provided with a deep cutaneous fold at the throat. 

 Three rows of external plumose gills on each side, they are 

 placed on the posterior margin of a corresponding fleshy prolon- 

 gation, and supported by three branchial arches between which 

 there are two gill openings into the mouth somewhat fish like. 

 Body elongated and stout, covered by a soft skin, permeated by 

 many pores. Tail broad, flattened, emarginated eel-like. Feet 

 four, all have four toes each without nails, vent a longitudinal 

 fissure. Color light brown, with numerous dark spots and 

 blotches, beneath lighter, with fewer and smaller spots. Heart 

 two-chambered. Lungs rudimentary, not functional. Eggs large 

 and much like those of fish. This species of menobranch inhab- 

 its large rivers and lakes in the northern states, especially numer- 

 ous in Lake Michigan. They feed on small fish, crustaceans and 

 molusks. They frequently commit depredations on the spawning 

 beds of fish, and thus doing considerable damage. 



The}'' inhabit rather deep water with stony bottom, over which 

 they crawl in search of prey. They seldom, or never rise to the 

 surface. Tbey swim with considerable velocity, however, when 

 occasion requires. They take the baited hook, and dire is the 

 consternation of the boy who hooks the fish with legs. I have 

 little doubt that the flesh is well flavored and nutritious; certainly 

 it is true that when a cat once gets a taste of the flesh of the 

 water puppy it is well nigh crazy to repeat the experiment In 



