246 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. VII. 



Color olivaceous to almost black, top of head darker; a dark streak 

 on middle of side and one near ventral surface ; pectoral and ventral 

 fins dusky, other fins plain. 



Length 3 to 5 inches. 



This species inhabits small sluggish streams and ponds from the 

 Rainy River eastward through the Upper Mississippi Valley to the 

 Hudson River, Florida, and Alabama. It probably spawns in May 

 It feeds on small crustaceans and insects. 



Bull Creek, Zion City, Illinois; Dead River, Beach, Illinois; La- 

 goon, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines River, Berwyn, 

 Illinois; Chicago River, Edgebrook, Illinois; Calumet Lake, Pullman, 

 Illinois; Lake George, Indiana; Lagoon, Pine, Indiana; Lagoon, 

 Clark Junction, Indiana. 



Schilbeodes exilis (Nelson). SLENDER STONE CAT. 



Head 3.9 to 4.3; depth 4.9 to 6.0; D. 1-6; A. 14 to 17. 



Body elongate, the head slightly depressed; caudal region com- 

 pressed ; head small ; upper jaw slightly the longer; maxillary barbels 

 not reaching gill openings; diameter of eye 5.3 to 7.3 in head; dorsal 

 fin to tip of snout 2.9 to 3.1 in length, its spine scarcely half the height 

 of the fin; pectoral spine 2.7 to 3.1 in head; weakly serrate anteriorly 

 near tip, the basal ^ of its posterior margin with about 6 slender 

 teeth ; caudal fin rounded. 



FIG. 21. SLENDER STONE CAT. 



Schilbeodes exilis (Nelson). (From Forbes and Richardson.) 



Color yellowish brown, uniform on sides, darker above with a 

 lighter squarish spot on occiput and a crescentic one behind dorsal; 

 fins pale or slightly dusky with darker margins. 



Length 3 to 4 inches. 



This fish inhabits small streams, with clear running water, from 

 Wisconsin to Indiana and Kansas. 



Hickory Creek, New Lenox, Illinois. 



