The Stone Cats 



any too cleanly in its habits doubtless has somewhat to do with this 

 prejudice. 



In different parts of its range, the goujon is known by many 

 vernacular names. In Louisiana it is called the goujon or yellow cat, 

 and the latter name is in common use throughout most of its habitat. 

 In the South it is known as the " pieded cat," Opelousas cat, and mud 

 cat, the last of these being also generally used in the North, where 

 it is also called granny cat. The names Bashaw and Russian cat 

 are sometimes heard, but their origin has not been explained. 



The goujon is more voracious than the blue cat, and large 

 individuals are apt to feed upon small ones of the latter species 

 when confined in the same live-box. To prevent this, it is said 

 that the fishermen sometimes sew up with wire the mouths of the 

 very large goujon. We have seen, on the Rock Castle River, in 

 Kentucky, the blue cat used as live bait on hooks set for the 

 goujon. 



Occasionally large catfishes, of this species and the blue cat, 

 crawl into the hollow cypress logs which are usually left in the 

 water until ready to be sawed. The catfish may be unable to pass 

 on through the log, and, being unable to turn around or back out, 

 remains in the log until it is placed on the carriage, and the pres- 

 ence of the fish is then discovered by the saw crashing into it 



The spawning season of the goujon in Louisiana seems to be 

 during April and the early part of May. As we proceed north- 

 ward it is correspondingly later, being as late as June in the north- 

 ern part of its range. 



"Don't talk to me o' bacon fat, 

 Or taters, coon or 'possum; 

 Fo' when I'se hooked a yaller cat, 

 I'se got a meal to boss 'em." 



— The Darkey and the Catfish. 



GENUS NOTURUS RAFINESQUE 

 Stone Cats 



Teeth as in Leptops, the band in the upper jaw having a 

 backward prolongation on each side from the outer posterior angle; 



33 



