FISHES OF MINNESOTA 19 



Genus LEPTOPS Eafinesque. 

 Leptops olivaris (Rafinesque). Mud Cat. Flat-head Cat. Russian Cat. 



Yellowish, mottled with brown; head much depressed; lower 

 jaw longer than the upper; premaxillary band of teeth with back- 

 ward processes; dorsal spine weak and not ending in a sharp point; 

 anal fin with 12 to 15 rays. A large fish which sometimes reaches 

 a weight of 50 to 75 pounds. 



Xo definite record of its occurrence in Minnesota has been made 

 so far, but it has probabl}^ been taken in the Mississippi River and 

 other large streams, as large cat-fish resembling this have been re- 

 ported by fishermen. 



Genus NOTURUS Eafinesque. 



Noturus flavus Rafine?que. Stone Cat. 



Color uniform yellowish brown; body rather slender; head flat 

 and broad; tail compressed; head contained 4^ times in the length; 

 barbels short; dorsal spine long; pectoral spine serrate in front, 

 its teeth pointing towards the body. Anal rays 16. 



A fish that reaches a length of 12 inches. It is not common in 

 Minnesota so far as known. One specimen has been recorded from 

 the Blue Earth River at Mankato (Cox, 1893). Several were seen 

 in the same river a year later. 



Genus SCHILBEODES Sleeker. 

 KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SCHILBEODES. 



A. Pectoral spine smooth on its posterior edge, but with a longi- 

 tudinal groove; adipose fin not notched. . . . gyrinus, 19 

 AA. Pectoral spine with spines on serrje (serrate) on its posterior 



edge; adipose fin somewhat notched. .... exilis, 20 



Sehilbeodes gyriniis (Mitchill). 



Adipose fin continuous with the caudal; color varying from yel- 

 lowish broW'U to almost black above, darker below; some longitu- 

 dinal dark streaks. Pectoral spiue smooth, but w'ith a long longitu- 

 dinal groove on the posterior edge, smooth on the anterior edge, 

 contained 2 times in the head; in general, spines stout and rather 

 long. Anal fin with about 13 rays. Length 5 inches. 



A fish similar in habits to the S. exilis. Quite common in Min- 

 nesota, but not generally distinguished from the young of Ameiut'tis 

 melas or A. nebulosus. It can be told at once from these by its adi- 

 pose fin. Specimens are recorded from the streams and lakes of the 



