SILURIDA. — XXIV. 41 
and Texas, common, the best known of the smaller Cat-fishes. In- 
troduced into the rivers of Cal. (Lat., clouded.) 
Sf. Pectoral spines short, 24 to 3 in head (longest in the young); A. 17 
to 19. 
57. A. melas (Rafinesque). Adult very plump; young more 
slender. Color usually blackish. A. short and deep, its rays 
usually 17 to 19, its base nearly 5 in length, its pale rays forming a 
sharp contrast with the dusky membranes. N. Y. to Kansas, gen- 
erally common ; very close to A. nebulosus. (pédAas, black.) 
38. GRONIAS Cope. (ypavn, cavern.) 
58. G. nigrilabris Cope. Upper parts, jaws, and fins black ; 
eyes nearly hidden by thick skin; barbels and spines rather short. 
A. 18. Cave stream, tributary to Conestoga R., EK. Penn. A 
recent descendant of A. melas or nebulosus, rendered blind by 
subterranean life. (Lat. niger, black; labrum, lip.) 
39. LEPTOPS Rafinesque. (Aenrés, thin; dy, face.) 
59. L. olivaris (Rafinesque). Mup Cat. FLat-HEeap Cart. 
Russian Cat. Basuaw. Govuson. Yellowish, much mottled 
with brown. Body slender, the head broad and much depressed, 
the lower jaw projecting ; barbels short ; dorsal spine very weak ; 
pectoral spines strong; anal short. A. 12 to 15. C. scarcely 
emarginate. A very large species, reaching 75 pounds, abundant 
‘in sluggish streams, Ohio to Ga. and 8. W. A good food fish, of 
unprepossessing appearance. 
40. NOTURUS Rafinesque. Stone Cats. (varos, back ; 
ovpd, tail.) 
a. Premaxillary band of teeth with lateral backward processes, as in Leptops. 
(Noturus.) 
60. N. flavus (Rafinesque). Yellowish brown, nearly uniform ; 
body elongate; head broad and flat; barbels short; adipose fin 
deeply notched ; a keel on back before it; D. spines short; P. 
spine retrorse-serrate in front, roughish behind; A. 16. L. 12. 
Ontario to Va., Neb., and Tenn., not rare in large streams. (Lat., 
yellow.) 
ad. Premaxillary band of teeth without backward processes. (Schilbeodes 
Bleeker.) 
6. Pectoral spine serrate on its posterior edge, roughish in front; adipose fin 
notched. 
1 These little fishes abound in small brooks among logs and weeds. The wounds 
produced by the sting of their sharp pectoral spines are excessively painful. In the 
_axil is usually a pore, probably the opening of a duct from a poison gland. This 
Inatter deserves investigation. 
