FISHES OF NEAV YORK 85 



Amciurus vulgaris Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 140, 

 1896. 



This catfisb has a stout body; its depth is one fourth of the 

 total length without caudal. The head is contained about three 

 and three fourth times in this length. Eye very small; mouth 

 large; jaws equal or sometimes lower jaw projecting; barbels 

 long; maxillary barbel as long as head. The length of the dorsal 

 base is less than one half that of the anal, while its hight is 

 five sixths of the same length; adipose fin well developed. The 

 pectoral spine is stout and about two thirds as long as the fin. 

 Caudal square; anal rounded; least depth of caudal contained 

 two and one third times in greatest depth of body. D. I, 6; A. 

 18 (20); V. I, 8. 



The long-jawed catfish is found in the Great lakes region and 

 westward to Manitoba. Tt is believed to be very nearly related 

 to the common catfish, A. n e b u 1 o s u s , but its projecting 

 lower jaw will serve to distinguish it. This character, however, 

 we know^ by experience is not so satisfactory as it might be. 



The species reaches the length of 18 inches and the weight of 

 4 pounds. It is occasionally taken in the Ohio river, but is more 

 abundant in Lake Erie. Jordan and Evermann state its range 

 to be from Vermont to Minnesota and Illinois, chiefly north- 

 ward. The U. S. National Museum has it from Manitoba. Dr 

 Meek found a single specimen which was caught near Ithaca 

 among more than 100 of the common bullheads. It seems to be 

 rare in that basin. Thompson, who described the fish, had speci- 

 mens from Lake Champlain. The long-jawed catfish is similar 

 in all respects except its projecting lower jaw to the common 

 catfish, A. n e b u I o s u s . and may be found identical with it. 



47 Ameiurus catus (Linnaeus) 



White Cat; Channel Cat 



Siliirus catus Linxaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 305, 1758. 



Pimelodns atvarins De Kay, N. Y. Fauna. Fishes, 185, pi. 36, fig. IIG, 1842. 

 Ictalurus albidus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 107, 1883. 

 Ictalnrus lopJiins Jordan & Gilbert, 1. c. 107. 1883. 



