72 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS 



sion. Every navigator of the Ohio is well acquainted 

 with it, as they often come under the boats to enjoy 

 their shade in summer and frequently make their 

 noise. Another peculiarity of this fish, is the habit 

 which it has of producing large bubbles in quick 

 succession, while digging through the mud or sand 

 •of the river, in search of the Muscles or Unios. 



It has a small head, sloping and compressed all 

 the way from [I. 374] [26] the snout to the dorsal 

 fins and entirely scaly; thick, hard, and extensible 

 lips, and 2 nostrils on each side, the posterior larger 

 oblong & obliqual : the opercule is rounded with gilt 

 shades ; those shades extend to the sides of the body, 

 while the back is slightly dark or brownish, and the 

 upper part of the head olivaceous. The iris is gilt 

 brown and the fins are brownish, except the thoracic 

 and pectoral, which are reddish; these last have 18 

 rays, while the thoracic have seven, whereof the first 

 is spiny and the second mucronate. Tail with twenty 

 xays. Anal fin narrow elongate, brown tinged with 

 reddish, and with nine rays, whereof the first is spiny, 

 very small and flat, the second is also spiny, but very 

 thick, large and triangular, the third ray is the long- 

 est and the last is mucronate. The first dorsal fin is 

 triangular and broader than the second, which is very 

 long and rounded behind. 



This fish is either taken in the seine or with the 

 hook and line ; it bites easily, and affords fine sport 

 to the fishermen. It spawns in the spring, and lays 

 a great quantity of eggs. 



Ill Genus. Calliurus. Painted Tail. Calliure. 



Body elongate, compressed, scaly ; fore part of the 

 head without scales, neck and gill-covers scaly: 



