94 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETEST 2 82 



to the form herein called Noturus exilis (Hubbe and Raney, 1944) are 

 invalid. 



Noturus insignis was first described by LeSueur from material 

 (probably a single specimen) that became the basis of five different 

 names. Two of these, both accompanying LeSueur's descriptions, 

 were vernacular. Richardson (1836, p. 132) named Pimelodus insigne 

 on the basis of one of LeSueur's descriptions and vernacular names. 

 Next, Valenciennes (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1840, p. 144) described 

 LeSueur's specimen anew, naming it Pimelodus lemniscatus. Finally 

 Vaillant published a synonymy (1896a, b) and LeSueur's colored 

 drawing (1896b) under the drawing's label Pimelodon insignarius. 

 None of the descriptions indicated a type-locality. 



Characters of the single specimen that serves as the type of these 

 names are given above. LeSueur (1819, p. 155) indicated that the first 

 dorsal, anal, caudal, and pectoral fins are bordered with a band of 

 black, also shown in LeSueur's drawing, published by Vaillant (1896b). 

 However, the 50 caudal rays noted by LeSueur must be interpreted 

 as an estimation. Valenciennes (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1840, p. 

 144) described the upper jaw as longer than the lower and the caudal 

 fin with more than 60 rays, including the small ones above and below, 

 in agreement with counts obtained by Bertin from the type. The lo- 

 cality indicated, the characters given, and the original descriptions 

 when considered together leave no doubt of identity with the madtom 

 here called Noturus insignis; the combination of characteristics (2 

 internasal pores, the high number of caudal rays, the included lower 

 jaw, the color, and a locality in the eastern United States) refers to no 

 other species. 



Noturus marginatus was described by Baird (in Cope, 1869, pp. 237, 

 241). Localities listed are "Sinking Creek of the Kanawa," "head of 

 James River," and "the Susquehanna." Jordan and Evermann (1896a, 

 p. 147) listed USNM 1571, a collection containing at least nine speci- 

 mens, as type. Hubbs and Raney (1944, p. 15) accepted Jordan and 

 Evermann as having restricted the type and type-locality. No lecto- 

 type of Noturus marginatus has yet been selected. Baird's description 

 was based, at least in part, upon specimens from the Susquehanna 

 River at Carlisle, Pennsylvania (USNM 1571). It is uncertain if Baird 

 based his description also on the Virginia specimens or if these were 

 only listed by Cope after comparison with the Academy of Natural 

 Science specimens provided by Baird. I have examined several of the 

 syntypes of marginatus and find that they are all referable to Noturus 

 insignis. 



Schilbeodes marginatus atrorus, described by Hubbs and Raney 

 (1944) from Wolf Creek, Bland County, Virginia, differs little from 

 other material except in the intensity of the black on the fin borders. 



