SILURID^. 91 



I have restored the name of catus * to this species, following in this 

 respect Valenciennes and the. older American authors rather than 

 Girard, who transferred the name to an entirely different species. The 

 fact that LinnaBus counted twenty anal rays renders it unlikely that he 

 had a specimen of lividus, a species with twenty-five anal rays before 

 him. As it is not possible to say with certainty what species he did 

 have, we must adopt Valenciennes's identification of it until it is shown 

 that it is probably erroneous. The following is Linnseus's description 

 (Systema Naturae, xii,- 504) : — 



Catus 12. S. pinna dorsali postica adipoaa, ani radiia 20. Cirris 8. B. 5, D ^, O. P -^r 

 V. 8, A. 20. C. 17. 



Catesl). car. 2. p. 23. t. 23. Bagre 2. Marcgr. afflnis. 



Marcgr. hras. 173. Bagre species, 2. 



Habitat in America, Asia. 



Ex — Asia vidi pinnis ventr. radiis 6. 



The species termed atrarius, nebulosus, and catus by the earlier a'uthors 

 are evidently identical. 



There is nothing in the long description of Pimelodus felis to indicate 

 that it is distinct from the common Lake Bullhead. In the elaborate 

 enumeration of characters, individual and generic, given by Prof. 

 Agassiz, nearly all that is specific seems to be lost. 



On examination of the type-specimens of Pimelodus Jioyi Grd., and 

 P. vuljjeculus, Girard, I am unable to see that they differ at all from this 

 species. The caudal fin is not more emarginate than is usual in catus. 



Amiurus mispilliensis Cope appears to differ in some respects ; but 

 these are probably individual peculiarities, as but one specimen seems 

 to be known. 



The best figure of this species is that given by Dr. Storer under the 

 name of Pimelodus atrarius. 



* In the twelfth edition of the Systema Naturae (p. 503), Linnseua describes a 

 Silurus felis, which has been considered a species of Amiurus. An examination of 

 Linnseus's description has satisfied Prof. Gill and myself that S. felis was most prob- 

 ably based on Arius milberti C. & V. This latter species should then stand as Ariopsis 

 fells (L.) Gill & Jordan. 

 The following is the original description : 



Felis. 10. S. pinna dorsali postica adiposa, ani radis 23 cirria 6, canda bifida. B. 5, D i, 0. P. ^ 

 V. 6, A. 23, C. 31. 



Habitat in Carolina. X>. Oarden. 



Cirri sub labio inferiore 4, supra sinus oris utrinque 1. Dorsum ccsrulescens. P. ventralea ana- 

 Usque rubescentss. Cauda bifida. Afflnis S. Cato. 



