40 TELKOSTEI : NEMATOGNATIII. — XI. 



32. Ontario to Florida and Texas, abundant in lakes and larj^e 

 rivers, reaehinf; 100 pounds or more. 



(A. ponilerosus Bean, from St. Louis, described from a specimen 

 6 feet long, wei<jliin<T 150 pounds, is probably a j^iant example of 

 this species, dirterin^j oidy in havinj; 35 anal rays. I find '25, 27, 

 28, and .■!2 in four specimens of .1. uifjricans.) (Lat., blackish.) 



bb. Anal rays 20 to 23; humeral process very rough, more than half length 

 of pectoral spine. 



53. A. albidus (Le Sueur). White Cat. Channel Cat of 

 THE Potomac Olive-bluish, silvery below; body stout; head 

 broad, becoininj:^ with age very broad, the mouth in old specimens 

 wider than in any other s|iecies ; C. shallow-forked. L. 24. I'enn. 

 to X. C, very abundant iu Potomac K. Varies much with ajje. 

 (Lat., whitish.) 



aa. Cainlal (in entire or ver\' slightly emarginate. (Ameiurus.) 



d. Anal tin long, of 24 to 27 rays (counting rudiments), its base more than 

 \ length of body. 



54. A. natalis (Le Sueur). Yellow Cat. Yellowish, green- 

 ish, or blackish; body stout, the head short and broad, with wide 

 mouth. (ireat Lakes to Va. and Texas, common in sluggish 

 streams. L. 15. Excessively variable. (Lat., having large nates, 

 i. e. adipose fin.) 



dd. Anal fin moderate, of 18 to 22 rays, its base 4 to 5 in body, 

 e. Lower jaw ])rojecting. 



55. A. vulgaris (Thompson). Blackish; head 3^ to 4 ; A. 20; 

 p. sj)ine 2\ in head. Oreat J^akes to Manit(jl)a, essentially as in 

 A. tii'hulosus, except for the form of the mouth; very likely a 

 variety. (Lat., common.) 



ee. Lower jaw not projecting. 

 /. Pectoral spines long, 2 to 2J in head; anal rays more than 20. 



56. A. nebulo8U9'(LeSucur). Common Btllhead. Horned 

 Pot'T. l)ark yellijwish brown, varying from yellowish to black 

 Pftmetimes (var. marmoratus Ilolbrook), .'ihar])ly mottled with 

 dark green and whitish; A. rays usually 21 or 22; its base 4 in 

 body; jjcctoral spines long. L. 18. New England to Wis., Va., 



» Tim Hnmcil Pout are "dull and blniidorlnp follows," fond of the mud, and prov- 

 ing lK>!«t in weedy jionds ami rivers without <Mirrent. They stay near the lH>tti)in, 

 niovinjf Mlowly about with their barl)els widely Hprend, wnt<'hinn; for niiytliiu); oat- 

 able. They will take any kind of twiit. from an angle-wonii to a i>iece of n tin tomato- 

 eau, without (■n<|uetry. and they Heldom fail to swnllow the hook. Thry an- very 

 t4-nnriouH of life, " ojM.uinK nml stiuttiuK thfir niouthn for half an hour after their 

 heaiU have been iMit otf. " They spawn in spring, niiil tlie old tlshi'S Irnil Ihi- young in 

 grvat KidiooU near tlir shore, Hocmingly raring for thiMu as the hrii for her chii-kens. 

 " A bloo<lthin«»y and hullying »ef of ranger*, with ever a Uucn in rest, and ready to 

 do battle with Uicir uearcat uuighbor." (Thurtau.) 



