and its Tributaries. 333 
Pectoral fins oval, the spinous ray is serrated on the posterior 
edge, the serratures sometimes are oblitergted by age. 
Color. Back, head, and sides of the body, dusky or lead- 
colored ; forehead dark brown ; sides of the head yellowish ; 
belly and throat white. ó 
. Length. The specimen from which I made the sketch was 
twenty-two inches long; the breadth, perhaps, was greater 
than usual for specimens of that size. It is frequently seen, in 
the Cincinnati market, four or five feet long, and weighing 
sixty to eighty pounds, and sometimes even one hundred and 
twenty pounds. 
Hab. Lake Erie and the Ohio River. 
D. 1—6; €. 90; A. 30; V. 8; P. 1—7 rays. 
Observations. This species is becoming popular as an 
article of food. It bites readily at a baited hook, and is often 
taken upon “ set lines," as well as in seines. 
_ The young specimen represented was five and a half inches 
in length, 
The young is, almost universally, considered as a distinct 
Species by the fishermen, and was described, as such, by Rafi- 
hesque, under the name of P. maculatus. In the Cincinnati 
market, at this age, it is known under the name of “ channel- 
cat.” The body is of a faint lead-color, and. beautifully 
maculated 
P. cupreus. Raf. Yellow Catfish. 
« US cupreus. Yellow Cat-fish.. Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. p. 65. 
3i Kirtland's Report, pp. 169, 194 ; catalogued, 
not descri ee 
s y « “  Dekay’s Report ; catalogued, not described. 
Plate XXIX. Fig. 2. " 
Head equal to one quarter of the total length, depressed 
and flattened above, gibbous behind the eyes, wider than the 
