CATFISH GENUS NOTURUS RAFINESQUE 143 



Relationship. — Noturus baileyi and Noturus hildebrandi are tenta- 

 tively associated in the hildebrandi species group because of their 

 similar numbers of pelvic and caudal rays as well as the general 

 reduction of anterior serrae of the pectoral spine and the reduced 

 posterior process of the cleithrum in both. 



Etymology. — Noturus baileyi is named in honor of Dr. Reeve M. 

 Bailey, under whom this study was made. 



Ecology. — The lower section of Abrams Creek is a stream of 14.6 

 miles, between the Little Tennessee River and a 25 foot waterfall. 

 Approximately 2.5 miles of the lower part of this stream are now 

 part of Chilhowee Lake, created by construction of a dam on the 

 Little Tennessee River at Chilhowee, Tennessee. The specimens were 

 collected during a reclamation of Abrams Creek, to increase its sport 

 fishery, prior to closure of the dam at Chilhowee. The locaUty of 

 capture is not now known but would appear to be above the area of 

 present impoundment if the date of capture, June 8, 1957, is correct. 

 Although the reclamation eliminated the fish fauna (Lennon and 

 Parker, 1959) from lower Abrams Creek, subsequent collecting 

 indicates that many of the fish species, reported by them, have 

 returned but no species of Ictaluridae have been taken. 



The middle section of lower Abrams Creek consists of alternating 

 series of long pools and moderate riffles. The current is moderate in 

 the pools to swift on the riffles. The bottom consists mostly of various 

 size rocks, varying from pea gravel to boulders. Lennon and Parker 

 (1959, p. 12) gave further data regarding Abrams Creek: "The 

 stream below Abrams Falls is characterized by short cascades and 

 very long, deep pools. Most of it cannot be waded .... At the camp- 

 ground, the stream averages 63 feet in width at the normal discharge 

 rate of 90 cfs. The gradient is approximately 44 feet per mile. The 

 water is clear, slightly brown, and soft." Noturus baileyi was collected 

 with Noturus fiavus. 



Remarks. — A possible source of future confusion concerning the 

 origin of the specimens of Noturus baileyi requires comment. The lot 

 of mixed specimens containing the Noturus baileyi, when received 

 at the U.S. National Museum, included three other species of Noturus: 

 N exilis (USNM 201603, 1 specimen), A^. Jlavus (USNM 201604, 

 7 specimens), and A^. elegans (USNM 201600, 4 specimens). The 

 published list of species collected in the Abrams Creek survey included 

 only Noturus Jlavus and Noturus miurus. The specimens of Noturus 

 baileyi, although not prominently marked with a bold pattern, as is 

 typical N. miurus, are thought to be the basis of the listing of miurus. 



The specimens of A^. ex%lis and A^. elegans are regarded as incorrectly 

 included in the fauna of Abrams Creek for the following reasons: 

 (1) The specimens of A^. elegans and A^. exilis are similarly preserved 

 and those of A^. baileyi and A^. fiavus have another preservation, 



