SILURIDiE. 95 



The anus is situated behind the ventrals, some distance behind their 

 bases, and much in advance of the anal fin. 



Coloration : brown or yellowish, more or less marbled or spotted. 



The genus Pelodichthys is at first sight recognized by the long body, 

 flat in front; the depressed and broad oblong head with the projecting 

 lower jaw, by the posterior extension of the upper bands of teeth, by the 

 partly concealed dorsal spine, the small size of the anal fin, and the recur- 

 rence of the caudal fin. But one species is definitely known. The 

 various nominal species described by Eafinesque and Valenciennes, I 

 think, were all based on the common olivaris. 



Those who hold that the mere naming of a genus, without explana- 

 tion or attempt at characterization, gives validity to such name, will 

 call this genus Glanis instead of Pelodichthys. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES. 



*Body very long, slender, depressed forwards, closely compressed behind, the head ex- 

 tremely flat, the lower jaw longest; barbel short; dorsal spine small, half the height 

 of the tin, enveloped in thick skin ; pectoral spine very strong, flattened, serrate be- 

 hind; caudal somewhat emarginate ; anal short, its base about? in body, of 12 to 

 15 rays ; premaxillary band of teeth with a large distinct backward process on each 

 side ; coloration mottled brown and yellowish, whitish below ; size large, 



Olivaris, 22. 



22. PELODICHTHYS OLIVAEIS, [Rafinesque) Gill & Jordan. 



Mud Catfish. 

 (Figs. 52 and 53.) 

 Silurus olivaris, Eafinksque (1818), Am. Monthly Mag. iii, Sept. 355. 



Hopladelus olivaris, Gill (1862), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 45.— Cope (1869), 

 Jouru. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 237.— Jordan (1876), Man. Vert. 303.— Nelson 

 (1876), Bull. Ills. Mus. Nat. Hist. 50.— GiiJ. (1876), Ich. Capt. Simpson's 

 Expl. 426.— Jordan & Copeland (1876), Check List, 160.-Jordan (1877), 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 46. 

 Pelodichthys olivaris, Jordan (1877), Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. — . 

 Glanis Umosus, Raf. (1818), Am. Monthly Mag. iii, 447, and iv, 107 (name only). 

 Pilodictis Umosus, Raf. (1819), Journal do Physique, 422. 

 Pylodictis Umosus, Raf. (1820), Ich. Ohiensis, 67. 

 Silurus nebulosus, Raf. (1820), Quart. Journ. Sci. Lit. Arts, London, 50. 



Pimelodus nebulosus, Raf. (1820), Ich. Oh. 64. 

 Silurus viscosus, Raf. (1820), Quart. Journ. Sci. Lit. Arts, 50. 



Pimelodus viscosus, Raf. (1820), Ich. Oh. 66. 

 Mwnts iimosus, Raf. (1820), Quart. Jouru. Sci. Lit. Arts, 51. 



Pimelodus limosus,RxF. (1820), Ich. Oh. 67.-Kirtland (1846), Bost. Journ. Nat. 

 Hist, iv, 335.— Storer (1846), Synopsis, 404. , v. ,^ 



Pimelodus imncUdatus,Cvy. & Val. (1840), xv, 134.-DE Kay (1842), Fishes N. Y. 187.- 



Stoeer (1846), Synopsis, 403.-Gunther (1864), Cat. Fishes, v, — . 

 Pimelodus ceneus, Cuv. & Val. (1840). xv, 135.-DK Kay (1842), 1. c.-Storer (1846), 

 1. c. 403. 



Eahitat.—Ohlo Valley to Iowa and South. 



