AMIURUS. 139 
Anal with 21 rays; pectoral spine 8 the length of head, its inner edge with 
5 strong serre ; maxillary barbel extending to basal part of pectoral . . 6. meeki. 
2. Pectoral spine with inner edge entire or very indistinctly serrated. 
Anal with 26 rays; pectoral spine a little less than % the length of head; 
maxillary barbel extending to middle of pectoral fin. . . . . . . 4 67%. australis. 
Anal with 20 or 21 rays; pectoral spine a little less than x the length of head ; 
maxillary barbel extending to basal part of pectoral; middle caudal rays 
% aslongas the longestrays. . 2... 2... wee ee MexiCanus. 
Anal with 20 to 24 rays; pectoral spine about 3 the length of head ; maxillary 
barbel extending to basal part of pectoral; middle caudal rays not more 
than 4 as long as the longest . soe eee we ew ww. YO dugesi. 
Anal with 24 to 26 rays; pectoral spine } the length of head ; maxillary barbel 
extending to basal part of pectoral fin . . . . .. .. . . . . 10. balsanus. 
II. Caudal fin subtruncate. (Amrurus.) 
Anal with 24 to 27 rays . 2... 1. ~ - « « « Ll. natalis. 
1. Amiurus meridionalis. 
Amiurus meridionalis, Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 102 (1864)', and Trans. Zool. Soe. vi. 1868, p. 473, 
t. 81. fig. 17. 
Ictalurus meridionalis, Jord. & Everm. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. xlvii. 1896, p. 135°, 
Ichthyelurus meridionalis, Meek, Publ. Columbian Mus., Zool. v. 1904, p- 11’ 
Hab. Mzxico, Rio Otopa in Vera Cruz+; Guatemata, Rio Usumacinta!? and Rio 
Chisoy (Salvin). 
The largest of four specimens in the British Museum measures 340 mm. in total 
length. 
2. Amiurus punctatus. 
Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), Jord. & Everm. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. xlvii. 1896, p. 1357. 
Ichthyelurus punctatus, Meek, Publ. Columbian Mus., Zool. v. 1904, p. 135”. 
Hab. Great Lakes to Tamaulipas ! ?, 
I have examined specimens from Arkansas and the Ohio River; the species is said 
to attain to a weight of twenty-five pounds. 
3. Amiurus furcatus. 
Ictalurus furcatus (Le Sueur), Jord. & Everm. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. xlvii. 1896, p. 184°. 
Ichthyelurus furcatus, Meek, Publ. Columbian Mus., Zool. v. 1904, p. 10°. 
Hab. Towa and Ohio to Tamaulipas ! 2, 
This species is said to attain a weight of forty pounds. I have examined a few 
small specimens, including one of the types of A. affinis, Baird & Girard, and 
T2 
