478 
VERTEBRATA. 
THE LOACH. 
fish, common in every pond and stream throughout the temperate parts of North America. It 
is commonly associated with the little Pond-Fish, or Sun-Pish, Pomotis vulgaris, already men- 
tioned, and the Yellow Peech, P. Jiavescens. 
Genus COBITIS : Cobitis, includes the Loach, C. harhatula, sometimes called Beardie. It 
feeds on worms and aquatic insects, 
spawns in March or April, delights in 
small, shallow, clear streams, and has the 
habit of lurking under stones. It is noted 
for having six barbules about the mouth. 
Yarrell remarks that " fishes thus provided 
are known to feed at or near the bottom 
of the water, and it has been stated in 
this work that those species which reside constantly so near the bottom as to acquire the name 
of ground-fish, have a low standard of respiration and a high degree of muscular irritability. In 
the animals possessing this duration of the power of muscular contractility, as the eels, flat-fish, 
and many others, there is reason to believe there exists also great susceptibility of any change 
that occurs in the electrical relations of the medium in which they reside ; the restless move- 
ments of eels and other ground-fish during thunder, receive at least a probable explanation in the 
belief that no alteration in the weather takes place without some previous change in the elec- 
trical state of the atmosphere, which by quality or quantity may affect the water. 
" The Chinese, who breed and rear great quantities of gold carp, find that thunder does them 
harm, and even sometimes kills them. Pennant says that lobsters fear thunder, and are apt to 
cast their claws after a loud clap. These eftects may be referred to spasmodic action of the 
muscles, induced by electrical influence. If fishes of opposite habits, such as surface-swimmers 
and ground-fish, are put together into the same vessel of water, and a slight galvanic discharge 
be passed through the fluid, the ground-fish, with the lowest degree of respiration, will be the 
most ao-itated." 
Genus LABEO : Laheo, includes several American species with fleshy lips, often crenated. They 
are of little value for the table. The Chub-Sucker, L. elegans, is eight inches long; dark bluish 
above, beneath whitish, with pink sufi^usions along the abdomen ; little esteemed for food, but 
common in the New York market in autumn. The Brilliant Chub-Sucker, L. oblongus, is six 
to twelve inches long; a beautiful species, aj^pearing in our markets in December. It is famil- 
iarly known under the name of Chub. The Long-finned Chub-Sucker, Z. cgprinus, is twelve 
to twenty inches long ; resembles the carp of Europe, and is popularly called Carp ; found in 
the rivers of Western New Jersey, and in the Susquehannah. The Gibbous Chub-Sucker, L. 
gibbosus, is seven to twelve inches long ; common in the fresh-water streams of New York. The 
Round-backed Chub-Sucker, X. esojms, is ten to twelve inches long; found in the interior of 
New York. 
Genus CATOSTOMUS : Catostomus, includes only Amei-ican species, having thick, fleshy 
lips, which are crenated or plaited ; the lower lip is pendant. The Common Sucker, C. communis, 
is twelve to fourteen inches long ; the head is smooth and scaleless ; the scales of the body reticu- 
late ; body dark purplish above, with pink and metallic tints on the sides, frequently with a 
resplendent golden hue extending over the abdomen ; beneath white. The flesh is insipid, but 
it is common in the New York markets. 
The Oneida Sucker, C. Oneida, is twelve inches long; dark blue above; beneath whitish ; 
common in Oneida Lake, where it is called Mullet and Sucker. The Horned Sucker, C. tuber- 
culahis, is seven to ten inches long; common in the New England and Middle States, and is 
called Barbel, Dace, and Horned Dace, The Pale Sucker, C. jmllidus, is nine to ten inches 
long ; it is a common species, abundant near PeekslrilL The Mullet Sucker, C. aureolus, is 
twelve to eighteen inches long; is indiff"erent food; goes by the names of Mullet, Golden 
Mullet, and Red Horse. De Kay says he has seen them full of worms in August and Sep- 
tember. Common in Lake Erie. The Black Sucker, C. nigricans, is thirteen to twenty inches 
long, and is common in Lake Erie, where it has the whimsical name of STioema.]cer. It is 
