SILURID^. 23 



Distributed throughout the state, but more abundant in the 

 Ohio and tributaries. Rafinesque records it under the name 

 Pimelodtcs ^Silurui) maculatus, " as far as Pittsburg." Kirtland 

 mentions it under the name Pimelobus coerzilescens, as " common 

 to the Ohio and lake waters," and as P. pallidiis, "common in 

 the Ohio at Cincinnati." The latter is identical with the former. 

 Abundant in Ohio and Little Miami rivers, Henshall, 1888 ; 

 Lorain County, common, McCormick, 1892 ; Maumee river at 

 Toledo and Grand Rapids, Kirsch, 1893 ; Muskingum river at 

 McConnellsville, Prof. D. S. Kellicott, 1895 ; Franklin County, 

 " common in all larger streams, especially in Big Walnut creek," 

 Williamson and Osburn, 1897 ; Ohio river and Ice creek at 

 Ironton, Wabash river at Celina, R. C. Osburn, 1899 ; Chippewa 

 lake, Ohio river at Bellaire, R. C. Osburn, 1900. 



Genus : Ameiurus. 

 Key to Species. 



A. Caudal fin forked. — lacustris 



AA. Caudal fin not forked. 



B. Anal fin long, of 24 to 27 ra3'S (counting rudiments). — nataHs. 



BB. Anal fin shorter, of 17 to 22 rays. 



C Lower jaw projecting. Anal rays 20. — vulgaris. 



CC Lower jaw not projecting. 



D. Pectoral spines long, 2 to 2^ in head ; anal rays 20 to 23. — nebtdosus. 

 DD. Pectoral spines shorter, 2^ to 3 in head ; anal rays 17 to 19. — melas. 



Ameiurus lacustris (Walbaum). Mississippi Cat ; Great 

 Fork-tailed Cat. 



Head 4, low, broad and depressed, its upper surface quite flat, its width 

 § its length. Depth 5 ; D. I-5 ; A. 25 to 32, base of the fin as long as head. 

 Humeral process short, only a little over ]/$ the length of pectoral spine. 

 Body stouter than in the preceding genus. Caudal fin deeply forked. Color 

 dark olivaceous or slate, growing darker with age ; belly pale, no dark spots 

 on sides. Our largest catfish, said to reach a weight of 150 pounds or more. 



In Ohio this species is well distributed, being found in the lake, 

 Ohio river and larger streams. Kirtland does not record this 

 species, probabl} 7 confusing it with his Pimelobus coerulescens 

 {Ictalurus punctahis). Common in the Ohio river, Henshall, 

 1888 ; Lorain County, common in the lake and lower parts of 

 the rivers, McCormick, 1892 ; Franklin County, two specimens 

 taken in Big Darby creek ; one of these, a female weighing 4^ 

 pounds, contained eggs, June 21, 1897, Williamson and Osburn. 



