352 NEW SPECIES OF FRESH-WATER FISHES. 



width, 4$ iu head. Lower jaw included; band of preuiaxillary teeth 

 not produced backward. Barbels rather long, the maxillary barbel 

 leaching gill opening. Insertion of dorsal considerably nearer adipose 

 fin than snout, its spine 2£ in head ; pectoral spine extremely large ; 

 longer, stronger, and more heavily armed than in any other North 

 American Catfish; its length 1£ in head. It is provided with antrorse 

 teeth on its outer margin, these growing larger and less retrorse to- 

 wards the end of the spine. The tip of the spine is, however, free from 

 teeth on either side. Inner margin of spine with seven or eight strong 

 recurved hooks. Humeral process moderate. Adipose fin high, with a 

 deep notch, which extends almost to its base. Caudal long, its tip 

 rounded; anal short, rather high, its base 6 in body, its longest rays 2 in 

 head. Color more varied than iu any other of our Catfishes; the pattern 

 similar to that of X miurus. Light brown ; entire upper parts and fins 

 punctate with black dots ; a dusky area between eyes; a black saddle- 

 like blotch across occiput; a large one before and one behind dorsal 

 and one on adipose fin ; a crescent-shaped bar at base of caudal; three 

 distinct black curved streaks across caudal, and two across soft dorsal 

 and anal ; these markings less distiuct in the young. 



This species is the most strongly armed of the North American Cat- 

 fishes, and according to Professor Jenkins the poison of its axillary 

 gland is more virulent than that of other species. 



Numerous specimens were taken in the Neuse River at Millbnrnie, 

 near Ealeigh ; one in the Little River at Goldsborough, and one in the 

 Tar River at Rocky Mount. Specimens in the U. S. National Museum 

 from Tarborough, N. C. (James W. Milner, collector), were at first iden- 

 tified by me as Xoturus elcutherus and afterwards as Noturus miurus. 



2. Noturus gilberti Jordan & Everraauu, sp. nov. (Type, No. 39931. U. S. NaT. Mus. ) 

 From Koauoke, Va. 



Head, 4f in length; depth, 7; width of head, 5|. D. i, G. A. 15. 

 Length, 3A to 4 inches. 



Body slender, moderately compressed ; the body less compressed, the 

 head narrower and less depressed than in X, insignis, the snout less 

 obtuse. Eyes quite small, 2 to 24 in interorbital width, about 5 iu head. 

 Land of premaxillary teeth without backward processes. Lower jaw 

 decidedly shorter than upper, the difference about the diameter of 

 the eye; maxillary barbels short, dark, not reaching nearly to the gill 

 opening. 



Origin of dorsal fin considerably nearer to the snout than to the 

 adipose fin, its spine scarcely longer than eye, about 5 in head. Pectoral 

 spine extremely short, stoutish, its inner margin with sharp teeth on 

 the basal part, its outer margin nearly entire, roughish toward the tip. 

 Adipose fin very low, separated from the caudal by a broad shallow 

 notch, which extends almost or quite to the base of the fin. The adipose 

 fin is as free from the caudal as iu X. eleutherus. Anal fin short and 

 high, its base Gi in body, its longest ray 14 in head. Caudal fin broad, 



