996 FISHES—GADIDA. 
Synonymy.—The earliest available specific name of this species (unless we call it 
Lota lota) is maculosus LeSueur, as has been shown by Dr. Bean (l.c.). The prior name, 
lacustris (* Gadus lacustris, Walbaum, 1792), which has been used by Dr. Gill and my- 
self, appears not to have been given to this species, nor to anything in particular, and 
is, therefore, not available. The earliest name of the European Burbot which 
Dr. Bean has found, is Lota vulgaris, Jenyns (1835). The European form is provisionally 
considered a variety (var. vulgaris), differing only in the fewer vertebrae (61 instead of 
64). Most of the common names of this species have been given in allusion to its re- 
semblance to marine Gadoid fishes, as ‘‘ ling,” “‘ cusk,” ete. 
Diagnosis. — The “Lawyer” or Burbot may be known from all other 
Ohio fishes by the presence ef a single barbel on the chin. 
Habits.—This species inhabits chiefly large bodies of water, particularly 
_ broad, still, or deep rivers and lakes. Its range is entirely northward, 
Kansas City and New Albany, Indiana, being the southernmost 
points from which it has been recorded. In Ohio it is found in some 
abundance in Lake Hrie. As an article of food it is not highly valued. 
The unattractive appearance of the fish is probably the cause of this, 
rather than any bad character of the flesh. The flesh is to my taste 
fairly good, although rather tough and destitute of richness, ranking 
about with the Cat-fishes, and decidedly better than the flesh of the 
“Drum,” or of any of the Suckers. The liver is said to be especially 
‘delicious, but my taste is not sufficiently delicate to distinguish it from 
other fish liver, when cooked. 
In Europe the Burbot is often boiled and eaten cold vas vinegar 
and other codiments. So prepared, it is tough and tasteless. 
The Burbot ‘‘is carnivorous and voracious, having a craving and wonderfully disten- 
sible stomach, which makes it an efficient dredge in securing bottom fishes. From this — 
source was obtained the rare sculpin-like fish, Zriglopsis thompsont. -It is said to lie in 
wait under stones watching for its prey, and to feed principally at night.’—Bran. 
ORDER 9. HEMIBRANCHII. THE HALF-GILLED 
FISHES. 
No pneumatic duct communicating with the air-bladder ; superior branchihyal and 
pharyngeai bones reduced in number; inferior pharyngeals separated; ventral fins ab- 
dominal or subabdominal; pectoral fins elevated; mouth bounded by premaxillaries 
* The following is Walbaum’s description of his ‘‘ Gadus lacustris :” 
‘‘Gadus lacustris, Americanus Mathemeg; Anglis Land Cod, Pennant Arct. Zool., 
Introd., p. 191; Corpus tripedale, superne subspadiceum, inferne griseum; cirri tres, in mandt- 
bula inferiore, quorum medius longitudine duos alios vincit ” | 
This description is valueless, and applies to no fish. The ‘‘Land Cod” of British 
America is said to be an Amiurus, and there is little doubt that the species which hov 
ered in the ‘‘distorted perspective” of Waibaum’s mental vision, to borrow an expres- 
sion from Dr. Coues, was the Amiurus nigricans LeSueur. 
