160 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



the base of the anal, which enters in the total length somewhat more than four 

 limes only. 



The color is of a uniform, dark blackish-brown tint. 



LXX. The cat fish figured and described by DeKay, under the name of 

 Pimelodus catus, Ctrv. and Val., belongs to a species quite distinct from the 

 one just alluded to. The head forms a little more than the fourth of the 

 whole length : it is broader than long. The lower jaw is longer than the upper. 

 The eyes are rather small ; their diameter entering about nine times in the 

 length of the side of the head, and five and a half times across the interocular 

 space. The anterior margin of the dorsal fin is equidistant between the apex 

 of the snout and the anterior margin of the adipose. The caudal, which forms 

 about the sixth of the total length, is stibtruncated posteriorly. The base of 

 the anal enters likewise six times in the total length. 



This species might be called P. dekayi ; the specimens observed were col- 

 lected at Oswego, Lake Ontario, and in foitr mile creek, near Oswego, by S. F. 

 Baird. 



LXXI. The true Pimelodus catus is a southern species, widely distinct from 

 the above. It can be distinguished by the following characters : the head is 

 contained four times and a half in the entire length ; it is as long as broad, the 

 length being taken from snout to occiput. The jaws are equal. The eyes are 

 small ; their diameter enters also nine times in the length of the side of the 

 head, and five and a half times across the interocular region. The anterior 

 margin of the dorsal fin is nearer the apex of the snout than the origin of the 

 adipose. The caudal is posteriorly rounded off, and contained five and a half 

 times in the total length. The base of the anal enters but four times in the 

 same length. 



LXXII. The hydrographic basin of the Chesapeake has furnished a species of 

 cat fish, popularly known as the " Channel cat," or " Mud cat." The head, 

 which is longer than broad, forms a little less than the fourth of the total 

 length. The upper jaw is somewhat longer than the lower one. The eyes are 

 rather large ; their diameter being contained seven times in the length of the 

 side of the head, and four times and a half across the interocular space. The 

 anterior margin of the dorsal fin is equidistant between the apex of the snout 

 and the origin of the adipose. The posterior edge of the caudal is moderately 

 emarginated ; the fin it3elf constituting not quite the sixth of the total length. 

 The base of the anal is somewhat shorter than the dorsal. The rays are : D I, 

 5 4-1; A 20 ; C 3, 1, 8, 1, 1, 4 ; V 8 ; PI, 9. The upper regions are bluish 

 black, whilst the abdomen is whitish. Specimens were obtained in the Potomac 

 river, in deep run, a tributary of Patapsco river, and at Carlisle, Pa. 



We propose the name of Pimelodus lynx for this species. 



LXXIII. Another species, to which we apply the name of Pimelodus puma, was 

 collected by myself in Charleston, S. C. The head constitutes the fourth of the 

 entire length; it is also longer than broad. The jaws are equal. The eyes are 

 of medium size; their diameter entering about eight times in the length of the 

 side of the head, and five times across the interocular space. The posterior 

 margin of the dorsal is equidistant between the apex of the snout and the 

 posterior flap of the adipose. The caudal is subconvex posteriorly; it con- 

 stitutes about the sixth of the total length. The base of the anal does not 

 enter quite four times and a half in the total length. 



LXXIV. We have likewise collected in Charleston, S. C, a cat fish, the general 

 form of which is more slender than that of the preceding species ; the anal fin 

 is deeper and the caudal emarginated : features which will at once differentiate 

 the species to which we give here the name of Pimelodus vulpeculus. The head, 

 which is longer than broad, constitutes the fourth of the total length. The 

 lower jaw is somewhat shorter than the upper one. The eyes are of medium 



[May, 



