178 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



raaxillaries suspended from the sides of the ethmoid, which 

 enters into the outline of the mouth, forming the superior 

 median portion. The suboperculum is absent in the whole 

 family. 



" Species of this polymorphous family are found distributed 

 throughout the globe. In Europe, however, there is found 

 but one sp6cies, the Silurus giants, or Sheat Fish. This 

 species, interesting from the fact of its being the largest fresh- 

 water fish in Europe, the Sturgeons excepted, is most abund- 

 ant in Central Europe, its existence in England being hypo- 

 thetical. The weight has been known to exceed 100 lbs., in 

 this respect equalling some of the American Siluridae. It 

 difl'ers from the North American species in the absence of a 

 posterior adipose dorsal, in the very small true dorsal, and in 

 the very long anal. Other species of this restricted genus, 

 Silurus, are found in various parts of Asia, and perhaps 

 Africa, but not in America. The American forms are highly 

 varied, those of the northern continent, however, being quite 

 uniform in structure. The two most conspicuous fresh- water 

 genera are Pimelodus and Noturus ; the former with a distinct 

 adipose dorsal, the latter with this dorsal confluent with the 

 caudal. Numerous species of Pimelodus (Catfish, Horned- 

 Pout, Bull-Head) occur in the various waters of North 

 America, some of which acquire a large size. One species, 

 from the Mississippi, has been known to weigh over 100 lbs. 

 The flesh of many species is highly prized, owing to its 

 sweetness and freedom from bones. The genus Noturus, 

 known provincially as Stone Catfish, embraces but few species, 

 found in the Atlantic streams south of New York, and in 

 those of the Mississippi valley. They will probably be dis- 

 covered in the eastern rivers (in the Hudson at least), when 

 their ichthyology has been more fully studied. Marine forms 



