29. SILURIDiE ARIUS. 
109 
nearer the upper than the lower outliue. Eye large, the luiddle point 
of the length of the head being near its posterior margin. Month 
rather small. Barbels long. Spines long. Skin thin. Humeral pro- 
cess long and slender, more than half the length of the pectoral spine, 
which is strongly serrated behind. Head 4; depth 5. Anal 25-29. 
Elvers of the Southern and Western States, from Montana to Ver- 
mont, Mexico, and Georgia ; generally abundant in the channels of the 
larger streams. It reaches a weight of 20-25 pounds. Variable. 
{Silurus punctatus Raf. Amer. Month. Mag. 1818, 359; Jordan, 1. c. 76: PimeJodus 
ccendescens Raf. Ichth. Oh. 63: Fimelodus caudafiircatus Le Suenr, M^m. Mus. v, 152: 
Amiurus caudafiircatus Giinther, 102 : Fimelodus furcifer, ffracUis, vulpes, olivaceus, 
houglii, megatops, graciosus, hammondi, notatus, etc. Auct. : Ictalurus headlci and simp- 
soiii Gill: Ichthcelurus rohustus Jordan, 1. c. 76.) 
dd. Anal fin very long, its rays 32-34. 
109. I. fwi’csatas (Cuv. & Val.) Gill. 
Color silvery, plain or somewhat spotted. Anal fin extremely elon- 
gate, its base nearly one-third the length of the body (without caudal) j 
its rays 32-34 in number. Eye small, wholly anterior, the middle of 
the head being entirely behind its posterior margin. Head small, about 
4.} in length ; depth 4 in adults to 5 J in younger specimens 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. Size rather small. Ohio to Iowa and 
Texas ; not very common. 
(Fimelodus furcatus Cuv. & Val. xv, 136, 1840 : Amiurus furcaius Giiuther, v, 103 . 
Jordan, 1. c. 75.) 
57m — ARIUS Cuvier & Valenciennes. 
Sea Cat-fish. 
CCuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. xv, 53, 1840: type Fimelodus arius Buchanaif.) 
Body more or less elongate, subterete. Head subconical, armed with 
a bony shield above, behind which are usually two others, the iiosterior 
at the base of the dorsal spine. Skull with a fontanelle. Mouth not 
large, the upjier jaw the longer. Teeth villiform or granular, in a band 
in each jaw. Teeth in one or two patches each on the vomer and pala- 
tines, all of them sometimes confluent into one band. Barbels 6 (the 
nostrils without barbel), close together, the posterior with a valve. 
Eyes with a free orbital margin. Dorsal fin short, in front of the ven- 
trals, with a pungent spine and 7 rays. Adipose fin well develojied, 
posteriorly free. Caudal fin deeply forked. Anal fin short. Pectorals 
each with a spine. Ventral rays G. Skin smooth, naked, except on the 
