SCHILBEODES 199 



obscure points near tip, posterior edge smooth or with a few weak teeth 

 near base (not found in Illinois specimens) ; humeral process about 4 in 

 pectoral spine. Lateral line usually complete. 



This little species is rare in Illinois, having been taken by us but 

 eight times — twice from creeks near Havana, three times from creeks 

 near Lincoln, twice from tributaries of the Kaskaskia in Clinton 

 and Shelby counties, and once from Camp creek in Henderson 

 county. Outside our limits it is reported from sandy streams of 

 the lower Wabash basin in Indiana, from the Poteau, Washita, and 

 Saline rivers in Arkansas, and from the Sabine, Trinity, and Lam- 

 pasas rivers in Texas. It appears to be nowhere common, and 

 we have no information concerning its natural relations or special 

 habits. 



SCHILBEODES EXILIS (Nelson) 

 (slender stonecat) 



Nelson, 1876, Bull. 111. State Lab. Xat. Hist., I. 1, 51 (Noturus). 

 J. & G., 100 (Noturus); M. V.. 42 (Noturus); \. & E., I. 147; [., 67 (Noturus); F , 

 84 (Noturus); L . 10. 



Elongate, the slenderest of our stonecats, the body almost cylindrical 

 in region of dorsal, depth 4.9 to 6 in length, diminishing but slightly to 

 caudal peduncle; profile low. Length 3 to 4 inches. Color yellowish 

 brown, uniform on sides, but darker above with a crescentic spot of lighter 

 color on back behind dorsal and a larger squarish one on occiput; median 

 fins pale 6r slightly duskv with darker margins, the contrast in color most 

 marked in the dorsal. Head small, narrow and depressed, its length 3 .9 

 to 4.3 in body, its width 4.8 to 5.8; interorbital space 2 .2 to 2 . 9 in head; 

 jaws nearly equal, the upper very slightly longer than lower; maxillary 

 Uirbels not reaching gill-openings; eye 5.3 to 7.3 in head. Dorsal fin 

 small and low, placed well forward, its distance from snout 2 . 9 to 3 . 1 in 

 length; the spine short and sharp, scarcely half the height of fin. Caudal 

 symmetrically rounded posteriorlv ; its accessory ravs numerous and well 

 developed; the notch between adipose and caudal variable, usually 

 obscure, sometimes acute. Anal fin with 14 to 17 ravs. Pectoral spine 

 short and sharp, 2.7 to 3.1 in head, weakly serrate anteriorlv near tip, 

 the basal § of the posterior margin furnished with about 6 slender teeth, 

 whose length is about \ the diameter of the spine; humeral process 

 obscure. 



This little stonecat was originally described in the first volume of 

 the Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History, 

 from specimens found in the Illinois River. We have since taken it 

 from the Pecatonica at Freeport, in Stephenson county ; from the 

 Du Page River in Will county; from Honey creek in Henderson 



