THE SMELT 



317 



metrical. The flatfish, consequently, illustrates well the prin- 

 ciples of self-adjustment to a pecuhar environment (Fig. 297). 

 The catfishes have four to eight long barljels around the 

 mouth, and have no scales on the body (Fig. 298). Thej^ 

 are most common in South America, but there are a large 

 number of species in the United States, mostly found in the 

 Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes, inhabiting deep or 

 sluggish waters, and living in the mud. The common New 



Fig. 298. — Ameivrus nehdosus, the catfish.. About one-half iiat. sizo. Photo, 

 of living animal by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, "Bull. U. S. Fish Com.," 1899. 



England species is A^neiurus catus. It was with reference to 

 our common New England species, the bullhead or horn-pout,' 

 that Thoreau wrote that they are " a bloodthirsty and bully- 

 ing race of rangers, inhabiting the river-bottoms, with ever a 

 lance at rest and ready to do battle with their nearest neigh- 

 bor." The .stiff, jagged rays of the pectoral fins can make 

 severe wounds. The great catfish of the Mi.ssissippi River 

 may weigh up to ninety kilograms, and, like most other 

 species of catfish, is much prized as food. 



The suckers are characteristic North American fi.sh 

 abundant in every creek, and consequently known to every 



1 Fig. 298. 



