cclx Fkesh-water Fishes. FISHES. Fkesh-wateb Fishes. 
Sub-class — GAN OIDEI. 
The Brilliant Chub Sucker (Labeo oblaiigus), and 
says : “ It is a Fisli of much beauty, and one about 
which confusion lias arisen on account of applying a 
European name.” Moxostoma (Red Horses). Seven 
species of this genus are found in the great lakes, 
quite abundant, and iu streams in Virginia and 
North Carolina. Several are called Mullet and 
Carp Mui-let. Placopharynx is represented by one 
species, called Cope’s Sucker (P. carniatus. Cope). 
It was only lately discovered in the Wabash River. 
Carpioides (Carp Suckers). In this genus are six 
species, called Spear-fish, Sail-fish, Quill-back, 
Skim-back, and Buffalo Carp and Silvery Carp 
Sucker. Ichthyobus (Buffalo Fishes) has one known 
sjiecies, inhabiting the valley of the Mississippi. Bu- 
balichthys (Buffalo Suckers). One species only has 
been described, though others are known ; habitat, 
in the Mississippi Valley. Cycleptus (Suckerels), 
called, also. Black Horse, Gourd-seed Sucker, 
Long Buffalo and Missouri Sucker. These local 
names are applied to this singular species, which is 
quite different from any other. It is found in the 
large streams of the Mississippi Valley. 
Family SlLURIDAi {Gat-Jishes). — 'I’hese are 
chiefly fresh-water Fishes, seemingly related to the 
Sturgeons. 'J’here are no true scales; the skin is 
naked, or has bony plates. 'I’here is usually an adi- 
pose fin, and the dorsal and pectorals are armed 
with a spine. 'I’he venlrals are abdominal. 'I'liere 
are one hundred genera, or more, and nearly seven 
hundred species, all abounding in American waters. 
'I’he species, though numerous, are yet closely related. 
Ictaturus (Channel Cats) has five species enume- 
rated under this head. Amiurus (Horned Pouts) is 
the Pimelodus of early authors, and includes, among 
twelve species, the Fotomac Cat (A. lynx (Girard), 
Gill), inhabiting the rivers from New Jersey to South 
Carolina ; Big-mouthed Cat (A. Lophius, Cope), 
found in the Potomac; Black Bull-head (A. pullus, 
(DeKay), Gill), found in the lakes of New York and 
eastward, abundant. Horned Pout (A. atrarius 
(DeKay), Gill), ranges from New England to Mary- 
land and the great lakes. 'I'he Great Lake Cat- 
fish (Ictalurus nigricans (Leseur), Jordon), is found 
to be an Amiurus. DeKay remarks ; “ I have seen 
this Fish weighing twenty-five to thirty pounds, and 
have heard of others which reached the weight of 
eighty pounds.” It is not esteemed as food. Hopla- 
delus (Mud Cats) has one species recorded. “ Other 
species probably exist, but they have not been stud- 
ied.” — Jordon. Noturus (Stone Cats) consists of 
four species, ranging from the Ohio Valley to the 
AVestern lakes. One is found in the lakes of New 
York. Gronias (Blind Cats) has only one species 
known — the Blind Cat-fish (G. nigrilabris. Cope). 
It has the form of Amiurus, and is found in subter- 
ranean streams tributary to the Conestoga River, 
Pennsylvania. 
Family ANGUILLIDHI (A'efc).— The Eels have 
been considered in our account of Marine Fishes. 
Jordon says : “There are two or three genera and 
about forty sjiecies. Found in seas and sluggish fresh- 
waters of all regions.” 
Family AM HD A3 {Bow Fins). — A single species 
of this family is known to the United States. “In 
some regions it is called ‘ Lawyer,’ because it is said 
it will bite at anything, and is good for nothing when 
caught.” — Jordon. DeKay records it as 'I’he West- 
ern Mud-fish (Amia occidentalis). 'J’his species is 
found in Lakes Erie and Ontario, and is distinguished 
by its ferocious looks and voracious habits. It is 
identical with A. calva. 
Family LEPIDOS'I’EIDAD {Oar Bikes). — 'I’hese 
interesting forms are included in two or three genera, 
and, according to Jordon, about five species are all 
that are strictly identified. Lepidosteus (Long-nosed 
Gars) includes the single species Gar Pike (L. osseus 
(Linn.), Agassiz) — Plate X., iig. iv. — abundant in 
large bodies of fresh-water, from New York to the 
south and west. Cylindrosteus (Short-nosed Gars) 
has one species recorded (C. platystomus) as found 
in the great lakes and streams of New York and west- 
ward. Litholepis (Alligator Gars) has one known 
species — the Great Gar (L. adamanteus, Raf) ; in- 
habits the waters of the Mississippi Valley north- 
ward to Illinois, and is abundant southward. 'I’his 
is a large species, reaching the length of eight 
feet, with head and mouth resembling those of the 
Alligator. 
Family FOLYODONTID^.,— 'I’his family is the 
only one of the order Selachostomi (Spoon-bills). 
The peculiar character is a snout produced into a 
long and spatula-like process. 'I’here are two species, 
one found in China, and the other in the Mississippi 
Valley. Polyodon (Duck-billed Cat) has a species 
named P. folium, which, in some regions, is called 
Spoon-billed Sturgeon, and is said to bear consider- 
able resemblance to a Shark. 
Family ACIPENSERH) JE {Sturgeons). — Ot 
this family there are only two genera and about 
twenty species, according to Gunther, though some 
authors make more. Dumeril, for example, enume- 
rates eighty. Acipenser (Sturgeons) has four spe- 
cies recorded by Jordon as inhabiting our waters. 
Scaphirhynchus (Shovel-nosed Sturgeon) is a distinct 
form, not identical with another of the same name. 
It attains a large size, and inhabits the streams and 
lakes of the Mississippi Valley. 
Class— M ARSIPO BR AN C lill—{Lampre}/s) . 
'I'liese forms have been considered in our account 
of the Marine Fishes. 'I’he following are, however, 
species peculiar to the fresh-water. Fetromyzon 
(Lampreys) has several forms described, but the 
identity of species has not been strictly determined. 
Large Black Lamprey (P. nigricans), though marine, 
is also found in Cayuga Lake, N. Y. F. niger in- 
habits the great lakes. Ichthyomyzon (Lamperus) 
is a genus comprising three known species, inhabiting 
the great lakes and Western rivers. The Silvery 
Lamprey (1. argentatus (Kirt.), Girard) is found as 
far east as New York. 'I’he others are known in the 
streams of the South-west. 
