colviii Fresh-water Fishes. FISHES. Fresh- water Fishes. 
Family OOT'I’ID^ {Sculpins). — 'I’lie marine spe- 
cies of tliis family liave been treated elsewliere. 
'riiere are about seventy species in twenty genera, 
mostly known in Northern waters. A few small 
species abound in the fresh-waters of Europe, Asia 
and North America. 'I’hey are all exceedingly ugly 
in aspect, particularly those of the salt seas. Uran- 
idea is represented by four species, one being the 
Common Miller’s 'J’homb, known equally well both 
in Europe and America. Pegedichthys, collectively 
named Spring-fishes, is represented by three species, 
among them the Cave Bui,l-head, which abounds in 
the caves of the limestone regions of the Western 
States. Trigiopsis (Lake Sculpins) has one species, 
found in stomachs of deep-water Fish. 
Famii.y GOIillDAil (Gohies). — 'I’his includes both 
marine and fresh-water forms. Naked Goby (Gobi- 
osoma molestum) is the only species known in our 
waters. Prof. Putnam obtained the first specimen in 
the Ohio River, near Louisville. 
Family GAD1DA5 {God). — One genus and one 
species only known to our fresh-waters. Ling (Lota 
lacustris (Mitch.), Gill), called, also. Burbot, Lake 
Lawyer, Eel-pout and Lake Cusk, found in the 
great lakes and streams of New England and north- 
ward, but is rarely used for food. It is L. inornata 
of Delvay, L. brosmiana of Storer, and is closely re- 
lated to L. vulgaris of Europe. 
Family GAS'rEROS'l’EIDiE {SticUebachs). — 
Both marine and fluviatile. 'J'wo species are con- 
fined to interior lakes. Ohio Stickleback (Eucalia 
inconstans (Kirtland), Jordon), called, also. Brook 
Stickleback, has a range from Ohio to Minnesota 
and Kansas. It is abundant in sluggish streams, and 
is particularly notable for its nest-building habit and 
pugnacity. 'I’he marine species are found often in 
rapid streams that lead into the sea. Pygosteus is 
represented by three species, called Many-spined. 
Family ATHERINIDAH (Silversides). — Five gen- 
era and foi’ty-five species are enumerated, a few 
being permanently in fresh-water. Silver Skip-jack 
(Labidesthes sicculus. Cope), called, also. River 
S iLVERSiDE, is abundant, but, until lately, was little 
known. Its form and silvery aspect render it very 
beautiful. 
Family CYPRINODONTJDA!:.— 'I’hese are small 
Fishes of fresh or brackish waters in both continents. 
One hundred and twenty species and twenty-five 
genera are known. Though we have numerous spe- 
cies, they are not well characterized as to the 
genera. One species from Florida is said to be the 
smallest known vertebrate. Fundulus (Killi-fishes) 
has one species, found inland in clear springs. Others 
are marine, though sometimes found in fresh-waters 
near the coast. Zygonectes ('I'op Minnows) is re- 
presented by four species in the Mississippi Valley 
and vicinity. 
Family UMBRIDAU [Mud Minnows). — These are 
small Fishes, like the preceding in most respects, 
found in muddy brooks, among weeds, often, or usual- 
ly embedded in mud. Melanura, with one species, 
called Dog-fish, Mud Dace and Mud Minnow, is 
found from New Jersey to Minnesota. 
Family ESOCID.3S embraces Fishes of exceeding 
voracity, some reaching a large size. With a single 
exception (the Pike of Europe), all belong to the 
United States. One or two genera and from five to 
twenty species are enumerated. The Great Pike 
(Esox nobilior, 'I'hompson), called, also, Muskal- 
LUNGE, is a splendid Fish, reaching the length of six 
feet ; common to the great lakes. E. lucius (Great 
Lake Pike, or Northern Pickerel) is found, also, in 
the great lakes and headwaters of the Mississippi ; 
length, three or four feet. It is regarded as the best 
edible Pish of the Western waters. Common Eastern 
Pickerel (Picorelliis reticulatiis (Leseur) Jordon), 
called, also, the Green Pike. This familiar Fish of 
our fresh-water streams and lakes is known in the 
Atlantic States, but not far in the interior. It is 
Esox lucius of Mitchill. DeKay says it does not 
extend above the great lakes, but is common in the 
Middle and Eastern States. Storer remarks that the 
Pickerel is taken in considerable numbers for Boston 
market, at Brewster, Cape Cod, where they often 
weigh seven pounds, and even larger ones are known. 
'J’he Banded Pickerel (P. americaniis (Lac.), Jor- 
don), called, also, 'J'rout-pickerel, is found in 
streams along the Atlantic shores. It is the Varied 
Bike (Esox fasciatus) of DeKay, and E. scomberius, 
niger, and ornatus of authors. P. salmoneus (West- 
ern Trout-pickerel) is abundant in Western streams. 
Family AMBLYOPSID.® {Gave Fishes). — Fishes 
of small size, living in the limestone caves of the 
Middle and Southern States. Three genera and four 
species are all that are yet known. Prof. Putnam 
thinks it most probable that more, and “ perhaps 
new species and genera will be found in the lowlands 
and subterranean springs.” Two groups are recog- 
nized, one with eyes rudimentary, concealed under 
the skin, and body colorless ; another with eyes well 
developed, with body colored, etc. Larger Blind- 
fish (Amblyopsis spelaeus, DeKay), Plate X, fig. i. 
'J'his is the Blind-fish of the Mammoth Cave, Ky., 
and also of the cave of Wyandotte. Prof. Putnam 
has given some valuable information concerning this 
form in American Naturalist. Dr. Wyman gives an 
account, also, in that work, vol. i, p. ]43. Typhlich- 
thys has the general characters of the preceding, 
with same localities; the species are rather smaller. 
Chologaster (Ditch Pishes) includes those having 
eyes, and colored skin. Two species are known, 
found in ditches and subterranean streams. 
Family PERCOPSIDA^ {Trout Perches).— 0\\& 
genus, with one species, comprises the representation 
of this family in our waters. The general aspect is 
like the Salmons, but the mouth and scales are 
pei'ch-like. Percopsis guttatus is found in the great 
lakes, and in the Potomac and Delaware Rivers. 
Family SALMONID^E {Trout). — Sixteen genera 
and one hundred and sixty species are known in the 
fresh-waters, many of them periodically descending 
to the sea; a few are permanently marine. Great 
Sea Salmon (Salmo salar, L.) — This magnificent 
Fish ranges over Northern Europe and America, 
southward to Cape Cod. S. fontinalis, Mitchill (Com- 
mon Brook Trout), is a justly-prized edible Fish, and 
