■iO-l: SILURID^. 



The above characters given by Mr. Gill comprise almost every- 

 thing that is known, and that may be relied ujDon, of the fishes of 

 this genus. With regard to the species, the North American writers 

 have left ns in the dark up to the present time, Rafinesquian descrip- 

 tions, headed bj' such specific names as oUvaris, viscos^is, nehulosus, 

 Nmosus, forming the principal portion of the literature existing on 

 this subject. 



43. NOTURUS*. 



Noturus, RaJiHesque, Iclvth. Okiem. p. 67. 



Scliilbeoides, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nedeti. iv. p. 258. 



Adiposff" fin low, long, cariniform, generally confluent with a 

 series of rudimentary caudal rays running along the free portion of 

 the tail ; a short dorsal fin with a pungent spine and with seven 

 soft rays ; anal fin of moderate length. Barbels eight. The upper 

 jaw is the longer. Palate edentulous. Head covered vnth. thick 

 skin above, occipital process very short. Caudal fin obliquely trim- 

 cated ; ventral rays nine. 



North America. 



1. Noturus lemniscatus. 



Pimelode li\Tee, Lesueur, Mem. Mus. d'llist. Nat. 1819, v. p. 155. 



Pimelodiis lemniscatus, Ouv. i$- Vcd. xv. p. 144. 



Noturus lemniscatus, Girard, in Proc.Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1859, p. 158. 



B. 8. D. 1/7. A. 21. P. 1/10. V. 9. 

 Head nearly as broad as long, one-fifth of the total length ; the 

 diameter of the eye is one-fourth of the width of the interorbital 

 space. The maxillary barbel does not extend to the end of the head. 

 Dorsal and pectoral spines stout, one-half of the length of the soft 

 portions of the fins, scarcely denticulated. Adipose fin continuous 

 with the caudal. (F«?.) 

 North America. 



2. Noturus flavus. 



Rajinesque, Ichth. Ohmis. p. 68. 



D. 1/7. A. 14. P. 1/7. 

 Barbels half the length of the head ; adipose fin continuous with 

 the caudal, which is truncate. Entirely yellowish, (liaf.) 

 Ohio. 



3. Noturus platycephalus. 



D. 1/7. A. 16. P. 1/11. V. 9. 



Head only a little longer than broad, much depressed, its length 

 being contained once and a third in the total (without caudal) ; the 

 maxillary barbel extends to the root of the pectoral. There is a 

 shallow notch between the adipose fin and the caudal. The distance 

 between the joint of the pectoral spine and the root of the outer 

 ventral ray is more than the distance between the latter and the 



* 1. Silurus gyrinus, Mitch., in Amcr. Monthl. Mag. and Crif. Eevieu\ 1818, 

 March, p. 322. — New York. 



