176 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



band across the back through the dorsal and another through the adi" 

 pose. Each of the paired fins crossed by a dusky band. Reaches a 

 length of three feet or more and a weight of fifty to seventy-five pounds. 



Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico. In our State it appears to have been 

 taken only in the southern portion. Ohio River {17, XV. , 136) ; Vigo 

 County {2S, '88, 55; 16, 93); Ohio County (23, '88, 56); Brookville, 

 Frankliu County (5, No. 2, 4) ; Monroe County (i, '85, 410) ; Lower 

 Wabash [1, '88, 46) ; East White River, Lawrence County (23, '84, 165) ; 

 Patoka Creek in Gibson County (4, '88, 162) ; Evansville U, '88, 165); 

 White River at Indianapolis (Jordan). 



This appears to be a mud-loving fish. It is usually fouud only in the 

 larger streams. Its appearance is not prepossessing, but it is esteemed 

 one of the best of the cat-fishes as an article of food. Forbes states that 

 so far as known it feeds on animal food, chiefly fishes, such as sun-fishes, 

 minnows and other cat-fishes. I have found in the axil of the pectoral 

 fins of this fish a poison pore similar to that found jn several or all of the 

 species of Notarus, but apparently somewhat rudimentary. The two 

 genera are closely related. 



Genus AMEIURUS Raf. 



Body niodera'ely elongated; heavy in front; compressed behind. 

 Supraoccipital bone extending backward behind a line joining the gill- 

 slits, but not reaching the base of the dorsal spine. Caudal fin trun- 

 cated or forked. Ventral rays eight, the first not divided. 



A genus containing a considerable number of species, the members of 

 which are familiar to all. Prof. S. A. Forbes found that the young of 

 most of the species live almost wholly on entomostraca. For an interest- 

 ing account of the breeding habits and development of the members of 

 this genus see that of Dr. J. A. Ryder in "Bulletin U. S. Fish Commis- 

 sion, vol. Ill, 1883, page 225. Some of the species of Ameiurus lead 

 their young about in schools near the shore and care for them as a hen 

 does for her chickens. 

 A. Caudal fin not forked, at most slightly notched. 



a. Anal fin long, its base more than one-fourth the length of the 

 body ; anal rays, twenty-four to twenty-seven. 



natalis, p. 177. 

 aa. Anal basis short, four to five times in b.)dy ; its rays eighteen 

 to twenty-two. 

 b Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper ; anal rays, twenty. 



vulgaris, p. 177. 



bb. Lower jaw not projecting; anal rays usually twenty-one 



or twenty-two. nebulosus, p. 178. 



aaa. Anal short, its basi?^ nearly five in body; its rays, seventeen 



to nineteen. rnelas, p. 178. 



AA. Caudal fin deeply forked. nigricmis, p. 179. 



