FISHES OF MINNESOTA 17 



Genus AMEIURUS Rafinesque. 

 KEY TO THE SPECIES OF AMEIURUS. 



A, Caudal forked. 



B. Anal with 25 to 35 rays lacustris, 17 



AA. Caudal not forked, generally rounded. 



B. Anal rays, including rudiments, 22 to 27, base of the anal fin 



more than one-fourth the length of the body. . . liatalis, 17 

 BB. Anal rays 15 to 22; base of anal fin contained 4 to 5 times 

 in the body. 

 C. Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. . . vulgaris, 18 



CC. Lower jaw not projecting beyond the upper. 



D. Anal rays more than 20; pectoral spines contained 



2 to 2h times in the head neblllosus, 18 



DD. Anal rays less than 20 (17 to 19); pectoral spines 



contained 2^ to 3 times in the head. . . luelas, 18 



Genus AMEIURUS Rafinesque. 



Ameiuriis lacustris (Walbaum). Great Cat-fish. Great Fork-tailed Cat. 

 Mississippi Cat. Florida Cat. Cai-fish of the Lakes. Flannel-mouthed Cat. 



Dark slaty-blue, growing darker with age; interruption between 

 the bones of the head and base of the first dorsal but slight; body 

 more slender than the others of this genus, but somewhat heavier 

 than Ictalurus punctatus; head depressed; eye moderate, in front 

 of the middle of the head; barbels long, colored black; caudal fin 

 deeply forked. Head contained four times in the length of the 

 body Depth 5. Dorsal I, 5 or 6 rays. Pectorals, I, 9. Anal 

 long, with 25 rays. One of the largest fishes, reaching a weight of 

 one hundred pounds or more. 



So far I have no definite record of the occurrence of this fish in 

 Minnesota, but as cat-fish of this description have been reported by 

 fishermen and as this state is evidently within its range there is 

 but little doubt that it has been taken in the larger streams, es- 

 pecially in the Mississippi. 



Ameiurus natalis (Le Sueur). Yellow Cat. 



Color varying from yellowish to greenish or blackish; body 

 heavy and short; head short and broad; mouth wide; anal rays 24 

 to 27; base of the anal fin more than ^ the length of the body. 

 Length 15 inches. This is considered a very variable fish, and pres- 

 ent information indicates that it is not very common in Minne- 

 sota. The number of anal rays is the chief characteristic which 

 distinguishes it. Specimens in the University Museum were taken 

 as follows: Lake Johanna, Ramsey Co., and Spirit Lake, Aitkin 

 Co. (Nat. Hist. Surv., 1892) ; Lake Kilpatrick, near Gull Lake, sev- 

 eral reported (Nat. Hist. Surv., 1893). 



