364 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 
First and foremost, from the size and peculiarity-of forma- 
tion, I will mention what the fishermen designated a “spoon- 
bill cat-fish”°—a name without doubt given by some one 
who knew as little about genus and species as a cow does 
about a watch-pocket. This curious fish was beautifully 
shaped, with all those perfections that characterize the sal- 
mon family; but projecting from his head was a muscular 
continuation about sixteen inches long and six broad in tht 
centre, not unlike the blade of a canoe-paddle. This spoon- 
bill was entirely separated from and projecting over and 
independent of the mouth, the lower jaw being in its ordi- 
nary place; nor was the mouth large. As nature forms 
nothing without purpose, of what use was this projection ? 
My own idea is that ‘it was a feeler, used in poking about 
through the weeds, decayed vegetation, and mud: and by 
its sensitiveness the fish was enabled to find his food. On 
handling this rara piscis, I found that the slightest pressure 
on this attachment appeared to produce intense pain. The 
skin was entirely free from scales, from the tail to the ter- 
mination of the projection, and was very smooth and soft, 
not at all dissimilar to that of an eel. For a trifle I secured 
the prize, as I was assured he was an excellent table addi- 
tion; and my informants were perfectly correct. I after- 
ward cut up the proboscis to satisfy my curiosity, and 
found it entirely composed of gristle, the surface under- 
neath the skin being a labyrinth of veins. Afterward I 
saw, at different times, many of this curious family, thus 
proving that they are in no way rare; still, I have never 
seen them mentioned by naturalists. Probably it is ex- 
clusively confined to inland American waters. Further, I 
would say the vitality was remarkable, for after transport- 
ing it home it lived for over an hour. The weight of the 
entire fish was probably about sixteen pounds. The next 
attraction noticed was what is familiarly known in that 
