336 FISHES. 



and slenderer, with smaller fins; pectoral spine about 

 one-third the length of the head; jaws almost equal; 

 dorsal spine nearer snout than anal; distance from snout 

 to dorsal less than one-third of length; anal rays 15; 

 color brownish, with some darker mottlings ; tip of 

 dorsal black. Illinois to Kansas. 

 aa. Pectoral spines very strong, curved, their internal serrse very 



strong, spine-like, more than half the diameter of the spine ; 



coloration variegated ; a series of definite black blotches on 



the back ; anal rays less than 14. 



4. N. miu r us, Jordan. SAW - S-PINED STONE CAT. 

 Body moderately but not greatly elongate, the dorsal 

 region more or less elevated; adipose fin continuous, 

 high, interrupted by a notch which does not break the 

 continuity of the fin, the rudimentary caudal rays begin- 

 ning in the notch; color grayish, with four definite 

 broad dorsal cross-bars; one before the dorsal, one 

 behind it; one on middle of adipose fin and one small 

 one behind it; top of head and tips of fins black; A. 13. 

 Ohio to Iowa and Louisiana, abundant, readily known by 

 its coloration and its long, rough spines. 



5. N. eleutherus, Jordan. FREE - FINNED STONE CAT. 

 Similar but larger and rather stouter; the adipose fin 

 divided to its very base, so that a space greater than the 

 diameter of the eye intervenes between the adipose fin 

 and the rudimentary rays of the caudal; anal 11 to 13; 

 colors much as in JV. miurus. French Broad River and 

 Tar River, N. C. 



ff Pectoral spines grooved on the inner edge, not serrated; adi- 

 pose fin high and continuous. 



b. Pectoral spine very short and small, less than one-fourth the 

 length of the head ; head very small and narrow. 



6. N. lepiacanthus, Jor. SMALL - SPINED STONE CAT. 

 A small, slender species, with very feeble spines, found 

 in the Alabama and other Southern Rivers. 



