MAY, 1902. THK ICHTHYOLOGY OF MEXICO MEEK. 73 



Several small specimens were also taken at Puente de Ixtla, 

 the type locality. These specimens and the smaller ones taken 

 at the Balsas are much darker on ventral side than are the larger 

 specimens. The ventral surface of specimens 2 feet long is white. 

 It does not shade into the bluish on sides, the line between the 

 two colors being very marked. Puente de Ixtla; Balsas. 



Ameiurus price! Rutter. 



Head 3|; depth 5; D-i, 6; A. 19. Body elongate; head 

 rather narrow; lower jaw the shorter; premaxillary band of teeth 

 truncate behind; interorbital width 2^- in head; eye small, 6 in 

 head; barbels 8, the maxillary ones reaching slightly beyond gill 

 openings; pectoral spine smooth in front, serrate behind, serra- 

 tions 5 (in specimens 2^ inches in length) to 8 (in specimens 

 6^ inches in length); pectoral spine 2^- in head, equals length of 

 the dorsal spine; base of anal 2| in its distance from snout, i in 

 head. Origin of dorsal nearer tip of snout than to origin of 

 base of adipose fin. Caudal deeply forked. Bluish above, 

 lighter below; a few dark spots on the body; lobes of caudal 

 fin edged with black. 



These specimens differ somewhat from the description of A. 

 pricei. President' D. S. Jordan informs me that A. pricei was 

 described from a few small specimens, and it is his opinion that 

 our specimens from Minaca are the same species. Very large 

 cat-fishes are reported to be taken in the Yaqui. Minaca. 



Ameiurus dugesii Bean. 



Abundant in Lago de Chapala. Specimens were taken by me 

 at La Barca, Ocotlan and La Palma. None were seen at Patz- 

 cuaro, Zirahuen and Huingo, and I was told by the fishermen 

 that there were no cat-fishes in these lakes. They are reported 

 as common in the Lerma at Morelia and Acambaro, but in the 

 dry season are found only in the deepest holes. Ocotlan; La 

 Barca; La Palma. 



I here give a key by which the two species of Ameiurus now 

 known from the Pacific slope may be recognized: 



a. Pectoral spine without serrations (or a few weak ones in 

 the young). Dorsal spine long, if to ijj in the length of the 

 head. DUGESII. 



aa. Pectoral spine strongly serrate ; dorsal spine short, 

 2\ to 3 in the length of the head ; anal rays 18 to 23. PRICEI. 



