SILURID.£. 25 



Arcieiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). Common Bull-head; 

 Horned Pout. 

 Head broad and flattened, upper jaw noticeably the longer. Body rather 

 elongate, depth 4 to 4^. Anal fin with 20 to 22 rays, its base contained 4 

 times in length of bod}'. Humeral process more than l / z the length of the 

 rather long pectoral spine. Color dark brown or brownish yellow, usually 

 somewhat clouded, sometimes nearly black.. Length 18 inches. 



A very common species in the lake and its tributaries, less 

 common in the Ohio river drainage, but found in all larger 

 streams. " Occasionally seen in the Cincinnati markets," Kirt- 

 land ; Lake Erie, Henshall, 1889 ; Lorain County, "common in 

 all streams," McCormick, 1892 ; Maumee river at Cecil and 

 Waterville, Fish creek at Edgerton, St. Mary's river at St. 

 Mary's, Gordon and Lost creeks near Cecil, Tiffin river at West 

 Unity and Brunersburg, Auglaize river at Wapakoneta, Clover- 

 dale, Oakwood and Defiance, Sugar creek at Cloverdale and Lima, 

 Lost creek at Lima, Blanchard river at Findlay and Cloverdale, 

 Hoaglin creek at Oakland, Kirsch, 1893 ; Franklin County, 

 Scioto river, Olentangy river, Mason's run, Big Walnut, Little 

 Walnut, Big Darby and Alum creeks, Williamson & Osburn, 

 1897 ; Huron river at Milan, Sandusky Bay, Ashtabula creek at. 

 Ashtabula, R. C. Osburn, 1899 ; Pippin lake, Summit lake, R. C. 

 Osburn, 1900. 



Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque). Black Bull-head. 



Body stout, short and deep, back high, the profile nearly straight to base 

 of dorsal fin. Head broad, rounded in front, jaws about equal. Pectoral 

 spine short, its length contained 2 l / z to 3 times in length of head. Anal fin 

 short and deep, its base 4^ to 5 in length of bod}-, rays 17 to 19, the light 

 colored rays contrasting sharply with the dark membranes. Color almost . 

 black, sometimes brownish or yellowish, the belly pale or yellowish. This 

 species shares with the three next preceding the name of Bull-head, the 

 ordinary fisherman not drawing very fine distinctions in regard to species. 



The Black Bull-head is the most abundant species of catfish in 

 the state, found in nearly all streams and ponds of whatever size, 

 and especially in the Ohio river drainage. It is less abundant in 

 the lake drainage. It is a mud loving species and is less likely to 

 be found in clear, swift streams than in muddy, stagnant bayous. 

 A. xanthocephalus Rafinesque is now recorded as synonymous. 



