68 



70th f^pecies. Blue Catfish, ^ivelodus ceruleacens. Pime- 

 iode bleuaue. 



Upper jaw longer, lateral barbs black, shorter than the gills. 

 Eyes elliptical. Operculum and lateral line flexuose. Body 

 of a bluish lead colour, whitish beneath, unspotted. Tail e- 

 qually forked, base redish. Anal fin arched with 25 rays, 



Silurus cerulescens. Monogr. sp. 3. 



A fine species, reaching sometimes to a very large size, I 

 have been told that one was taken weighing 185 pounds and z^^ 

 iiother 250 pounds. Vulgar names Blue Cat and Brown Cat, 

 or Catfish. It is not uncommon m the lowest parts of the river. 

 Whole shape somewhat fusiform as in all the species with a 

 forked tail, yet depressed forwards and compressed behind. Of 

 an uniform lead colour, nearly blue in the young individuals 

 Jind nearly brow;\ in the old ones. Barbs rather short and white, 

 the upper ones very short and brown. Iris elongate and whi- 

 tish. Fins bluish; but the pectoral and abdominal whitish. 

 Spine of the pectoral fins equal in length, not fenestrate, and 

 hardly serrate inside. Number of rays, dorsal 1 and 6, pecto- 

 ral 1 and 7, abdominal 6, caudal 22. A yai'iety has a blackish 

 tail. Vent posterior. 



71st Species. White Catfish. PimelodusjialUdus. Pime 

 lode pale. 



Upper jaw longer, lateral barbs reaching the pectoral fins.' 

 Eyes elliptical. Lateral line straight. Body whitish, back 

 slightly olivaceous. Tail nearly equally forked. Anal fin elon- 

 gate with 25 rays. 



■Silurus pallidus. Monogr. sp. 2. 



Vulgar names white and channel Catfish: this last name is 

 given to it because it dwells principally in the channels or deep- 

 er parts of the river. Length from one two to feet. Shape as 

 in the foregoing;. Head smaller, olivaceous above. Barbs 

 white. Iris white. First dorsal fin nearer to the abdominal 

 fins, yellowish, rays 1 and 6. Pectorals yellowish, rays 1 and 7. 

 Abdominals white with six rays. Adipose fin olive with a brown 

 tip. And and caudal pale brown, 24 rays in the tail, which 

 has the upper acute lobe slightly longer. It offers some vari- 

 eties. 1st. Marginata. Tail fulvous, marginate^ w^^^ ^l«ick 



