VERTEBRATES. 



THE CATFISH. 



The following directions are written with special refer- 

 ence to the common channel cat or white catfish (Ictalu- 

 rus punctatus), but they are general enough to be applied 

 without difficulty to the study of any other common cat- 

 fish. 



THE CHANNEL CAT (after Todd, by permission). 



Description. The channel cat is abundant in all oui 

 rivers and small streams. It has the characteristic cat- 

 fish contour of body, which needs to be seen but once 

 to be remembered. It is olivaceous above, and whitish 

 below, with silvery sides ; and its tough, scaleless skin is 

 sprinkled with many small, round, dark olive spots. It 

 may be angled for at the proper season, and may be 

 obtained in the market or from fishermen at all seasons, 

 for it is a good food fish. 



Like all the other catfishes, it is very tenacious of life, 

 and there is little trouble in obtaining live specimens from 



NEED. ZOOL. 11 161 



