20 CHECK LIST OF THE 



GENUS ICTALURUS. (CHANNEL CATFISH.) 



Body slender, elongate, compressed posteriorly ; head slender, con- 

 ical ; superoccipital bone or process prolonged backward, its emarginated 

 apex receiving the acuminate anterior point of the second interspinal, thus 

 forming a continuous bony bridge from the head to the dorsal spine ; mouth 

 small, terminal, the upper jaw longer; teeth subulate, in a short band in 

 each jaw ; dorsal fin high, with one long spine and usually six rays ; adi- 

 pose fin over posterior part of anal ; anal fin long, with twenty-five to thirty- 

 five rays ; ventral fins each with one simple and seven branched rays ; 

 fins each with a stout spine, retrorse serrate within, and about nine rays ; 

 pectoral fins each with a stout spine, retrorse serrate within, and about 

 nine rays ; caudal fin elongate, deeply forked, the lobes pointed, the upper 

 the longer. Colouration pale or silvery, usually with dark spots on the 

 sides. 



(8) Channel Cat. Spotted Cat. 



(Ictalurus punctatus.) 



Head rather small, narrow, convex above, so that the eye is little 

 nearer the upper than the lower outline. Eye rather large (for a Catfish). 

 Mouth small. Barbels long, the maxillary barbels reaching more or less 

 beyond the gill opening. Spines long, the pectoral spines strongly ser- 

 rated behind. Body rather long and slender. Colour light olivaceous or 

 bluish above; sides silvery, nearly always marked with irregular small, 

 dark, roundish spots ; belly white ; fins often with dark edgings. 



D. I., 6; A., 24; V. I., 8. 



It is extremely variable in colour and in number of fin rays, and has 

 consequently been described under a number of different names. 



The Channel Cat grows to a length of about three feet and a weight 

 of twenty-five pounds or rather more, and is a most excellent table fish. 

 It is not very common in our waters, but is taken most frequently in Lakes 

 Erie and Ontario. Unlike most of the family, it seems to prefer pure, 

 clear water and is partial to deep, flowing streams. 



GENUS AMEIURUS. (HORNED POUTS. j 



Body moderately elongated, robust anteriorly, the caudal peduncle 

 much compressed ; head large, wide, obtuse ; superoccipital extended back- 

 ward, terminating in a more or less acute point, which is entirely separate 

 from the second interspinal buckler ; skin covering the bones thick ; eyes 

 rather small ; mouth large, the upper jaw usually the longer ; teeth in 

 broad bands on the premaxillaries and mandibles ; band of upper jaw 

 convex in front, of equal breadth, and without backward prolongation at 

 the angle ; dorsal over the space between pectorals and ventrals, higher 



