SCHILBEODES 199 



with 2 or 3 obscure points near tip, posterior edge smooth or with a few weak 

 teeth near base (not found in Illinois specimens) ; humeral process about 4 in 

 pectoral spine. Lateral line usually complete. 



This little species is rare in Illinois, having been taken by 

 us but eight times — twice from creeks near Havana, three times 

 from creeks near Lincoln, twice from tributaries of the Kas- 

 kaskia in Clinton and Shelby counties, and once from Camp 

 creek in Henderson county. Outside our limits it is reported 

 from sand}^ streams of the lower Wabash basin in Indiana, from 

 the Poteau, Washita, and Saline rivers in Arkansas, and from 

 the Sabine, Trinity, and Lampasas rivers in Texas. It appears 

 to be nowhere common, and we have no information concern- 

 ing its natural relations or special habits. 



SCHILBEODES EXILIS (Nelson) 



SLENDER STONECAT 

 (Pl., p. 196) 



Nelson, 1876, BulL 111. State Lab. Nat. Hist., L 1, 51 (Noturus). 



J. & G., 100 (Noturus); M. V., 42 (Noturus); J. & E., I, 147; J., 67 (Noturus); F., 

 84 (Noturus); L., 10. 



Elongate, the slenderest of our stonecats, the body almost cylindrical in 

 region of dorsal, depth 4.9 to 6 in length, diminishing but slightly to caudal 

 peduncle; profile low. Length 3 to 4 inches. Color yellowish brown, uni- 

 form on sides, but darker above, with a crescentic spot of lighter color on 

 back behind dorsal and a larger squarish one on occiput; median fins pale or 

 slightly dusky with darker margins, the contrast in color most marked in 

 the dorsal. Head small, narrow and depressed, its length 3.9 to 4.3 in body, 

 its width 4.8 to 5.8; interorbital space 2.2 to 2.9 in head; jaws nearly equal, 

 the upper very slightly longer than lower; maxillary barbels not reaching 

 gill-openings; eye 5.3 to 7.3 in head. Dorsal fin small and low, placed well 

 forward, its distance from snout 2.9 to 3.1 in length; the spine short and 

 sharp, scarcely half the height of fin. Caudal symmetrically rounded pos- 

 teriorly; its accessory rays numerous and well developed; the notch between 

 adipose and caudal variable, usually obscure, sometimes acute. Anal fin 

 with 14 to 17 rays. Pectoral spine short and sharp, 2.7 to 3.1 in head, weakly 

 serrate anteriorly near tip, the basal % of the posterior margin furnished 

 with about 6 slender teeth, whose length is about ^ the diameter of the 

 spine; humeral process obscure. 



This little stonecat was originally described in the first 

 volume of the Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Nat- 

 ural History, from specimens found in the Illinois River. We 

 have since taken it from the Pecatonica at Freeport, in Stephen- 

 son county; from the Du Page River in Will county; from Honey 

 creek in Henderson county; and from two creeks in Union 



