. The fishes of North Carolina . Fishes. 68 FISHES OF NOKTH CAROLINA. liver on the sixth, and fed ravenously after the eighth day. The fish were 4mm. long when hatched, and grew rapidly, some being 18mm. long on the eleventh day, and at the end of two months their average length was 50mm. Both parents were very zealous in caring for the eggs, keeping them agitated constantly by a gentle fanning motion of the lower fins. The most striking act in the care of the eggs was the sucking of the egg masses into the mouth and the blowing of them out with some force. The fanning and mouthing operations
. The fishes of North Carolina . Fishes. 68 FISHES OF NOKTH CAROLINA. liver on the sixth, and fed ravenously after the eighth day. The fish were 4mm. long when hatched, and grew rapidly, some being 18mm. long on the eleventh day, and at the end of two months their average length was 50mm. Both parents were very zealous in caring for the eggs, keeping them agitated constantly by a gentle fanning motion of the lower fins. The most striking act in the care of the eggs was the sucking of the egg masses into the mouth and the blowing of them out with some force. The fanning and mouthing operations were continued with the fry until they swam freely, when the care of the young may be said to have ceased. During the first few days after hatching, the fry, banked in the corners of the tank, were at irregular intervals actively stirred by the barbels of the parents, usually the male. The pre- daceous feeding habits of the old fish gradually overcame the parental instinct; the tendency to suck the fry into their mouths continued, and the inclination to spit the mout diminished, so that the numbers of young dwindled daily, and the 500 that had been left with their parents had completely disappeared in six weeks, although other food was liberally supplied. The yellow cat-fish is frequently eaten, but its food value is decidedly inferior; and in North Carolina it is not regarded with favor and has little com- mercial importance. 37. AMEIURUS PLATYOEPHALUS (Girard). Mud ; Brown Pimelodut platycephalua Girard, Proceedings Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1859, 161; Ander- son, S. C. Ameiurus plntycephalua, Cope, 1870b, 486; Catawba and Yadkin rivers. Jordan, 18896, 131, 134, 136; Cape Fear (Haw), Yadkin, and Catawba rivers. Jordan & Evermann, 1896,142, pi. xxvii, fig. 61. Diagnosis.—Form very elongate, the depth .12 to .20 total length; head low, flat, broad, .28 total length; upper jaw longer; dorsal fin high, .66 length of head, rays i,6; an
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