134 Bulletin 4^7, United States National Museum. 



Body elongate, slender, compressed posteriorly. Head slender and 

 conical. Supraoccipital bone or process prolonged backward, its emar- 

 ginated apex receiving the acuminate anterior point of the second inter- 

 spinal, thus forming a continuous bony bridge from the head to the dorsal 

 spine. Moutli small, terminal, the upper jaw longer. Teeth subulate, in 

 a short band on each jaw. Dorsal fin high, with one long spine, and 

 usually 6 rays. Adipose fin over posterior portion of anal. Anal fin 

 long, with 25 to 35 rays. Ventral fins each with 1 simple and 7 branched 

 rays. Pectoral fins each with a stout spine, retrorse serrate within, and 

 about 9 rays. Caudal fin elongate, deeply forked, the lobes pointed, the 

 upper the longer. Coloration pale or silvery. Fresh waters of North 

 America ; 3 species known ; the best of the Catflshes as food. They are 

 active fishes, frequenting especially river channels and ripples in large 

 streams. (/,y'5''C, fish ; nZAoupoc, cat ; hence more correctlj, Ichthywliirus.) 



a. Anal fin very long, Its base nearly 3-3 its body, its rays 32 to 35. furcatus, 20G. 



an. Anal fin shorter, its rays 25 to 29. 



(>. Barbels long, extending considerably beyond gill opening; anal rays nsnally about 26. 



PUNCTATUS, 207. 



hb. Barbels short, the longest only reaching gill opening; anal rays 28 or 29. 



MERIDIONALIS, 208. 



206. ICTALIIRUS FURCATUS, (Le Sueur). 

 (Chuckle-headed Cat.) 

 Head email, aboiit 4i in length ; depth 4 in adults to 51 in young. 

 Anal fin extremely elongate, its base nearly i the length of the body (with- 

 out caudal) ; its rays 32 to 35 in number. Eye small, wholly anterior, the 

 middle of the head being behind its posterior margin. Slope from dorsal 

 to snout somewhat concave, especially in adults. Pectoral spine rather 

 long; humeral spine stout, shortish, not reaching middle of pectoral 

 spine. Skin thin. Color silvery, plain, or somewhat spotted. Size rather 

 large, reaching a weight of over 40 pounds. Ohio to Iowa and Texas ; not 

 very common, {furcatus, forked.) 



Pimelodns furcaitis, Lr, Sueur, in Cuvier & Valenciennes, ix, 13G, 1840, New Orleans. 

 Ictnhmis furcatus, Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 109,1883. 

 Amiurus furcatus, Gunther, Cat.,v, 103,1804. 



Pimelodns affinis, Baird & Giraud, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1854, 2n, Rio Grande. (Type, 

 Nos. 8.37 and 838.) 



207. ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS, (Eafin.'sque). 

 (Channel Cat; White Cat; Blue Cat.) 

 Head 4; depth 5. Anal 25 to 30. Head rather small, narrow, convex 

 above, so that the eye is little nearer the upper than the lower outline. 

 Eye large, the middle point of the length of the head being near its i>os- 

 terior margin. Mouth small. Barbels long, the maxillary barbels reaching 

 more or less beyond gill opening. Spines long. Humeral process long 

 and slender, more than i the length of the pectoral spine, which is 

 strongly serrated behind. Color light olivaceous above, the sides pale 

 or silvery, and almost always with irregular small, round, dark spots; 

 fins often with dark edgings. Body rather long and slender, back little 

 elevated. Rivers of the (4reat Lake region and Mississippi Valley and 

 streams tributary to the (iulf of Mexico ; generally abundant in the 



