330 FISHES. 



almost connected with the inter-spinaL Southwestern 

 States. 



3. ^. niveiventris, Cope. Similar, but the head broader, 

 its width equal to its length above; distance to dorsal 

 spine 1^ in distance from spine to adipose fin; base of 

 anal notably less than head. Neuse River, N. 0. 



ff Aual flu short, of 19 to 22 rays. 



4. A. albidus, (LeS.) Gill. White Cat. Channel Cat 

 OF THE Potomac. Head narrowed, very wide in adults, 

 quite narrow in young, its width 4 to 5 in length of body; 

 upper jaw considerably the longer; dorsal spine nearer 

 adipose fin than snout; caudal deeply forked; base of 

 anal fin 4-g- in length; A. 21. Pennsylvania to South 

 Carolina, abundant. [A. lynx^ (Grd.) Gill.J 



5. A. lophius, Cope. Big - Mouthed Cat. Head 

 extremely wide, its width 3f in length, as great as the 

 length of the head; upper jaw slightly the longer; cau- 

 dal shallow-forked; base of anal fin 6 in length; A. 21; 

 color silvery as in the preceding. Tributaries of Chesa- 

 peake Bay, rather common. Very old specimens of JL 

 albidus resemble A. lophius^ but may be recognized by 

 the characters above noted. A. lophius has the largest 

 mouth of any North American Cat Fish. 



** Caudal fin rounded or slightly emargiuate, usually truncate 

 when spread open. 



X Anal fin very long, its base one-fourth or more the lengtli of 

 the body ; of 24 to 27 rays. 



h. Head and body elongate ; mouth narrow. 



6. A. erebennus, Jordan. Goode's Cat. Head and 

 Dody elongated; the dorsal region considerably elevated; 

 the head quite long and narrowed forwards; much longer 

 than broad; its width in front of eye only about half its 

 length; mouth rather narrow, with equal jaws; l^arbels 



