NATURAL HISTORY, TORONTO REGION 
which the parents keep guard, the male being most 
assiduous in the work of protection. In about a 
week the eggs are hatched, and the young, which look 
very like little black tadpoles, follow the parent fish 
along the shores until nearly the middle of July, 
when they are left to shift for themselves; after this 
the fry soon scatter and disappear into deep weedy 
water. They grow rapidly, and under favorable cir- 
cumstances are said to attain maturity in three years. 
The Catfish is an omnivorous feeder, nothing in the 
shape of animal food being beneath its notice, nor 
is it particular where it obtains its food, for I have 
taken it at all depths, from the surface of the water 
to the bottom, though its general habit is to grub 
about on the mud, seeking for what it may devour. 
As an article of food this fish does not rank in the 
first class in the estimation of most people; there 
are others, however, who prefer it to any of the 
so-called “coarse fish,” while to the small boy who 
goes fishing it is a source of endless delight and a 
joy forever. 
5. Stone Catfish. Noturus flavus (Rafinesque). 
This species is found in the larger streams falling 
into Lake Ontario, but is not common. It is an 
unpleasant fish to handle because of the painful 
wounds produced by its pectoral spines. There is 
a minute pore at the base of the pectoral spine which 
is the outlet of a noxious fluid secreted by a poison 
gland. When this poison is discharged into a wound 
it causes a very painful sore. 
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