180 FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



barbels scarcely reaching gill-opening, other barbels short; eye small, 8 in 

 head, situated near upper surface of skull. Dorsal fin low, its longest ray 

 little more than ^ of head; the spine short and robust, about 3 in head; 

 dorsal distance 3 in body. Caudal moderately forked, the lobes not much 

 pointed. Anal fin with 25 rays, its free margin symmetrically rounded. 

 Pectoral spine short and robust, with strong retrorse teeth on its posterior 

 edge; humeral process about 2^ in pectoral spine. 



This species is here described from a single specimen, ob- 

 tained in Senachwine Lake, near Henry, in August, 1903. 

 Since then, several specimens have been seen by us at Alton 

 and Grafton, where it is not rare in fyke-net catches made in 

 May and June. H. L. Ashlock, of Alton, says that fishes of this 

 species weighing 26 Ib are taken at Alton and Grafton, where 

 it is sometimes called " nigger-lips " by the fishermen. Its flesh 

 is said by Dr. Evermann to be firm and of excellent flavor. 



ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS (EAFINESQUE) 



CHANNEL-CAT; FIDDLER 



(MAP LIT) 



Rafinesque, 1818, Amer. Month. Mag., 359, (Silurus). 



G., V, 102 (Amiurus caudafurcatus) ; J. & G., 108; M. V., 39; J. & E., I, 134; N., 50; 

 J., 66 (Ichthaelurus punctatus and robustus) ; F., 82; F. F., II. 7, 456; L.., 9. 



Body slender, scarcely compressed, and the back very little elevated, 

 depth 4.2 to 5 in length, usually nearer 5 than 4; profile long and almost 

 straight, very slightly convex, the elevation 16 to 18, that from nape to 

 dorsal somewhat less than elevation from snout to nape. One of the larger 

 catfishes, reaching a weight of 20 to 25 pounds. Head and upper parts of 

 body dark to lighter olive, with coppery luster on cheeks and sides above 

 lateral line; sides below lateral line light olive with much silvery luster and 

 with small spots of darker; belly pearl-gray in region of ventrals, more 

 yellowish forward; maxillary barbels black, chin barbels whitish or ashen; 

 fins, except ventrals and pectorals, greenish, the anal with a silvery band at 

 base; ventrals and pectorals a smoky greenish gray. Head small, slender, 

 subconic, its length 3.6 to 4 in body, its greatest depth less than in I. anguilla, 

 4.9 to 5.2 in body; interorbital space flat or slightly convex; occipital region 

 and shoulders gently rounded and covered with thin, close-fitting skin; 

 mouth more nearly terminal than in anguilla, the upper jaw only slightly 

 longer than the lower; lips somewhat thicker than in preceding species; 

 maxillary barbels long and slender, reaching past gill-opening; eye oval, 

 lying above median axis of body and nearer upper than lower surface of head ; 

 diameter of orbit 4 to 8 in head. Dorsal fin high, placed a little nearer snout 

 than adipose, distance from snout to dorsal 2.5 to 2.7 in length; dorsal spine 

 usually rather more robust and shorter than in /. furcatus, 1.4 to 2.2 in head, 

 its posterior edge usually almost smooth. Caudal fin deeply forked, the upper 

 lobe longer and more slender than the lower. Anal fin short, composed of 24 

 to 29 rays, including rudiments, its base from 3.4 to 3.7 in length of body, 



