EEVIEW OF EAFINESQUE ON AMERICAN FISHES. 41 



*80tli species, Toad Mudcat, PYLODICTIS LIMOSUS, PyJodicte bour- 

 beux. (p. 67.) 



Pelodichthys olivakis (Raf.) G. & J. 



tXXIV. Genus, BACKTAIL, NOTURUS, Noture. (p. 67.) 



1 81st species, Yellow Backtail, NOTURUS PLAVUS, Noture jaune. (p. 68. 



KOTURUS FLAVUS Eaf. 



XXV. Genus, TOTER, HYPENTBLIUM, Hypentele. (p. 68.) 



82d species, Ohio Toter, HYPENTBLIUM MACROPTERUM, Hypentele 

 macroptere. (p. 68.) 



Hypentelium nigricans (Le Sueur.) Jor. 



Catostomus nigricans Le Sueur (young). 

 Jlylomyzon nigricans (Le S.) Ag. 

 Hypentelium nigricans (Le S.) Jordan. 



Description very good. If Catostomus nigricans be considered generi- 

 cally distinct from G. hudsonius, we have no alternative but to substi- 

 tute Hypentelium for Hylomyzon of later date. 



* Lower jaw longer, eyes round, eight barbs, four above and four below. Head ver- 

 rucosa above. Body brown, clouded, and dotted with yellowish, reddish, and bluish ; 

 one row of transversal black lines on each side of the back. No lateral line. Tail en- 

 tire and truncate. 



I have not seen this fish, but describe it from a drawing of Mr. Auclubon. It is found 

 in the lower part of the Ohio and in the Mississippi, where it lives on mmldy bottoms, 

 and buries itself in the mud in the winter. It reaches sometimes the -weight of 20 

 pounds. It bears the name of Mudcat, Mudfish, Mud-Sucker, and Toadfish. It is 

 good to eat, and bites at the hook. The head is broader than the body, and with a 

 very large mouth; the barbs appear to lie in four pairs, two above, longer and near 

 the nostrils, and two smaller under the lower jaw. The first dorsal fins triangular 

 and above the abdominals, which are nearer the pectorals than to the anal. Second 

 elongate with many rays. Number of rays unnoticed. 



t Difference from G. Pimelodus, S. G. Icialurus, and sect. Ameiurus : Adipose dorsal fin 

 very long, decurrent, and united with the tail, which is decurrent on each side, but 

 unconuected with the anal fin. 



Genus 18th of the Prodr. N. G. It difi'ers from the genus Plotosus of Lac6pfede by 

 having the anal fin free, and from Pimelodus by the connection of the tail with the 

 eecond dorsal fin. The name means "tail over the back". The Silurus gijrinus of 

 Mitchill must belong to this genus. 



t Entirely yellowish. Upper jaw longer, barbs half the length of the head. Eyes 

 round. Lateral line nearly straight. Anal fin with 14 rays. Tail entirely truncate. 



A small species, very common near the falls. Length 4 to 12 inches. It agrees in 

 almost everything with the section Ameiurus among the Catfishes. Vulgar name Yel- 

 low Catfish, like the Pimelodus cupreus. Dorsal fin with 1 and 7 rays, rounded spine 

 very short and obtuse. Second dorsal beginning before the anal and extending to the 

 tail in a curve. All the lower fins rounded. Pectorals with 1 and 7 rays, spine equal 

 and acute. Abdominal fins with H rays. AH the fins fleshy and fat. Head flat above. 

 Barbs unequal. Belly convex. Hind part of the body compressed. 



