REVIEW OF RAFINESQUE ON AMERICAN FISHES. 41 



*80th species, Toad Mudcat, PYLCDICTIS LIM03US, PyJodicte bour- 

 beux. (p. 67.) 



Pelodichthts olivaeis (Raf.) G. & J. 



tSXIV. Genus, BACKTAIL, NOTURUS, Noture. (p. 07.) 



i 81st species, Yellow Backtail, NOTURUS PLAVUG, Noture jaune. (p. C3, 



XOTURUS FLAVUS Raf. 



XXV. Genus, TOTER, HYPBNTSLIUM, Hypentele. (p. C8.) 



82d species, Oliio Toter, HYPSNT3LIUM MACROPTERUM, Hypentele 

 macroptere. (p. 68.) 



Hypentelium nigricans (Le Sueur.) Jor. 



Cdtostomus nigricans Le Sueur (young). 

 Hylomyzon nigricans (Le S.) Ag. 

 H'jpentelium nigricans (Le S.) Jordan. 



Description very good. If Cafostomiis nigricans be considered generi- 

 cally distinct from C. hudsonins, we have no alternative but to substi- 

 tute Hypentelium for Hylomyzon of later date. 



* Lower jaw longer, eyes round, eight barbs, four above and four below. Head ver- 

 rucose above. Body brown, clouded, and dotted with yellowish, reddish, and bluish ; 

 one row of tr.insversal black lines on each side of the back. No lateral line. Tail en- 

 tire and truncate. 



I have not seen this fish, but describe it from a drawing of Mr. Auchibon. It is found 

 in the lower part of the Ohio and in the Mississippi, where it lives on muddy bottoms, 

 and buries itself in the mud in the winter. It reaches sometimes the weight of 20 

 ])Ouuds. It bears the name of Mudcat, Mudfish, Mud-Sucker, and Toadfish. It is 

 good to eat, and bites at the hook. The head is broader than the body, and with a 

 very large mouth ; the barbs appear to lie in four pairs, two above, longer and near 

 the nostrils, and two smaller under the lower jaw. The first dorsal fins trianguhir 

 and above the abdominals, which are nearer the pectorals than to the anal. Sucond 

 elongate with many rays. Number of rays unnoticed. 



t Ditference from G. Pimelodiis, S. G. Idalurus, aud sect. Ameiurus : Adipose dorsal fin 

 very long, decurreut, and united with the tail, which is decurrent on each side, but 

 unconnected with the anal liu. 



Genus IHth of the Prodr. N. G. It differs from the genus riotosns of Lac(<pede by 

 having the anal fio free, and from Fimehdus by the connection of the tail with the 

 second dorsal fin. The name means "tail over the back". The Silunts fjyrimis of 

 Mitchill must belong to this genus. 



t Entirely yellowish. Upper jaw longer, barbs half the length of (he head. Eyes 

 round. Lateral line nearly straight. Anal fin with 14 rays. Tail tntiiely truncate. 



A small species, very common near the tails. Length 4 to 12 inches. It agr, es in 

 almost everything with the section Ameiurus among the Catfisbes. Vulgar name Yel- 

 low Catfish, like the Pimelodus cupreus. Dorsal fin with 1 and 7 rays, rounded spine 

 very short and obtuse. Second dorsal beginning before the anal and extending to the 

 tail in a curve. All the lower fins rounded. Pectorals with 1 and 7 rays, spine equal 

 and acute. Abdominal fins with 8 rays. All the fins fleshy and fat. Head flat above. 

 Barbs unequal. Belly convex. Hind part of the body compressed. 



