MUD-LOVING FISHES. 389 
minnows without alarming them ; and cautiously approach- 
ing from behind, they seize the head of the fish that is 
scarcely extruded from the mud. This they generally com- 
pletely sever from the body, cast aside, and then draw from 
the mud the decapitated body. We doubt the ability of 
this turtle to catch a mud-minnow not concealed in the mud. 
When lying on the mud, like an Etheostomoid, their move- 
ments are very rapid when disturbed. 
In speaking of the habits of certain species of fishes as 
‘mud-loving,” or dwellers in and upon mud, we really indi- 
cate merely those species that are most truly nocturnal. We 
judge that, to a certain extent, all fish are nocturnal. We 
have often noticed that fish will leap from an aquarium, if 
uncovered during the night; but this occurs but seldom 
during the day. Fishing with a line has always been more 
fruitful with us at night than fishing during the day ; even 
when fishing for yellow or white perch, and other active day 
fish. Nets set over night entrap a greater number, and 
larger specimens, than when set for the same number of 
hours between sunrise znd sunset. 
These remarks are peculiarly applicable to the two Cato- 
stomoids we have mentioned above, Moxostoma oblongum : 
and Hylomyzon nigricans. Unless quite small, less than six 
inches in length, these "suckers" remain quiet throughout 
the day; but as night approaches they leave the shallow, 
muddier portions of the creeks, and swim towards and into 
the. deeper waters. About sunset we have often noticed 
them coming to the surface, and with their nostrils above the 
water, they make a low, sibilant sound, and leave in their 
wake a long line of minute bubbles. When attacked, as 
they frequently are at this time, by turtles, they give a very 
audible grunt, similar to that of our chub when drawn from 
the water. Both of these “suckers” are occasionally found, 
even during the day, in running water, hunting among the 
stones upon the bottom; but still water and soft mud are 
never far distant. The “suckers” of our rivers are very 
