672 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



rivers, where occasionally specimens are captured, associated with 

 the following common species." 



A. vulgaris, Thonips. (dekayi, ailurus.) Long-jawed Cat. Common 

 Catfish. 



Lower jaw projects beyond the upper ; head longer than broad 

 and narrowed in front ; profile steep and convex ; color dark 

 reddish or blackish ; size of foregoing. 



" This is the most abundant species of the catfish found in the 

 State. It is a lover of quiet waters, with a deep deposit of mud on 

 the bottom of the stream. It would not be a misnomer to desig- 

 nate it as the ' mud } catfish. They afford moderate sport to the 

 angler, and, except in July and August, are a fair article of food. 

 They are less abundant in the smaller creeks of the northern 

 part of the State." 



A. natalis, Le S., var. cupreus, Jord. (Silurus lividus, Raf., &c.) Yellow 

 Cat. Chubby Cat. 



Body stout, with large head ; upper jaw projecting ; color 

 yellowish brown. This may possibly occur in the valley of the 

 Delaware, but it is difficult to distinguish species so variable. 



ICTALURUS, Raf. 

 I. albidus, Le S. White Catfish. Channel Cat of the Potomac. 



Body slender, compressed ; head conical ; branchiostegals eight 

 to nine ; six rays in dorsal fin ; caudal deeply forked ; mouth 

 rather narrow, upper jaw longer ; rays of anal fin about twenty- 

 one ; pale olive bluish above and silvery below. Length, 18 

 inches. 



" This, as an article of food, is the finest of our catfish species. 

 They are very abundant in tide- water streams, often associated 

 with the white perch, and afford excellent sport to the angler. 

 Large quantities appear in our markets." 



I. punctatus, Raf. (Pimelodus ccerulescens and many others.) Common 

 Channel Cat. Blue Cat. White Cat, &c. 



Eye large ; anal fin short ; a complete bony ridge from occi- 

 put to dorsal fin ; color bluish silvery, with small, round, dark 

 spots ; spines long ; skin thin ; anal fin short ; attains a weight of 

 over twenty pounds. Variable. Probably to be found in the 

 Delaware. 



