996 FISHES — GADID^. 



Synonymy. — The earliest available speoifio name of this species (unless we call it 

 Lota lota) is maculosus LeSuenr, as has been shown by Dr. Bean (I. c). The prior name, 

 lacustris {" Gadus laouatria, Walbanm, 1792), which has been need by Dr. Gill and my- 

 self, appears not to have been given to this species, nor to anything in particular, and 

 is, therefore, not available. The earliest name of the European Burbot which 

 Dr. Beau has found, is Lota vulgaris, Jenyns (1835). The European form is provisionally 

 considered a variety (var. vulgaris), differing only in the fewer vertebrae (61 instead of 

 64). Most of the common names of this species have been given in allusion to its re- 

 semblance to marine Gadoid fishes, as " ling," " ousk," etc. 



Diagnosis. — The "Lawyer" or Burbot may be known from all other 

 Ohio fishes by the presence of a single barbel on the chin. 



Habits. — This species inhabits chiefly large bodies of water, particularly 

 broad, still, or deep rivers and lakes. Its range is entirely northward, 

 Kansas City and New Albany, Indiana, being the southernmost 

 points from which it has been recorded. In Ohio it is found in some 

 abundance in Lake Erie. As an article of food it is not highly valued. 

 The unattractive appearance of the fish is probably the cause of this, 

 rather than any bad character of the flesh. The flesh is to my taste 

 fairly good, although rather tough and destitute of richness, ranking 

 about with the Oat-fishes, and decidedly better than the flesh of the 

 " Drum," or of any of the Suckers. The liver is said to be especially 

 delicious, but my taste is not sufiiciently delicate to distinguish it from 

 other fish liver, when cooked. 



In Europe the Burbot is often boiled and eaten cold with vinegar 

 and other codiments. So prepared, it is tough and tasteless. 



The Burbot "is carnivorous and voracious, having a craving and wonderfully disten- 

 sible stomach, which makes it an efficient dredge in securing bottom fishes. From this 

 source was obtained the rare scnlpin-like fish, Triglopsis thompsoni. It is said to lie in 

 wait under stones watching for its prey, and to feed principally at night." — Bean. 



ORDER 9. HEMIBRANCHII. THE HALF.-GILLED 



FISHES. 



No pneamatlc duct communicating with the air-bladder; superior branohihyal and 

 pharyngeal bones reduced in number; inferior pharyngeals separated ; ventral fins ab- 

 dominal or subabdominal ; pectoral fins elevated; mouth bounded by premaxillaries 



* The following is Walbaam's description of his " Gadus lacusiris :" 

 "Gadus lacusiris, Americauus Mathemeg; Anglis Land Cod, Pennant Arct. Zool., 

 Introd., p. 191 ; Corpus tripedale, superne subspadiceum, inferne grisevm; drri trea, in mandi- 

 bula inferiore, quorum medius longitudine duos alios vineit." 



This description is valuelesB, and applies to no fish. The "Land Cod " of British 

 America is said to be an Amiurvs, and there is little doubt that the species which hov 

 ered in the "distorted perspective" of Walbaum's mental vision, to borrow an expres- 

 sion from Dr. Coues, was the Amiurus nigricans LeSueur. 



