YELLOW STONE CAT. 799 



obliquely ronnded base ; snmerons rndimentarT' rays in fiont of it both above and 

 below ; anal fin short, -with 12 to 20 rays ; ventrals ronnded, nine rayed ; pectoral fins 

 with a sharp spine, either smooth, grooved or dentate behind ; vent some distance in 

 front of anal fin ; lateral line complete. 



The species are namerons and of snail size. Tlie group it leas homogeneous than 

 Ichthalurue and Amiurui. 



Analysis of Species of Noturus. 



"Fremaxillary band of teeth with a strong backward process on each side (subgenus 

 Notv/rua). 

 a. Pectoral spine serrate in front, nearly entire behind ; adipose fin notched. 



FLAVUS. 23. 

 "Premaxillary band of teeth without lateral backward processes (subgenus 

 Schilbeodes). 

 i. Pectoral spine serrate behind, rough in front ; adipose fin notched. 

 e. Pectoral spines shortish, about one-third length of head, weakly serrate ; jaws 

 equal. ....... exilis. 24. 



CO, Pectoral spines very strong, more than half length of the head ; npper jaw 

 longer. ....... miurus. 25. 



a. Pectoral spine grooved behind ; adipose fin high and continuous ; stout. 



SIALIS. 26. 



23. NoTUEDS FLAVDS Rafinesque. 



Yellow Stone Cat v Common Stone Cat. 



Noturus flavus, Eafinesque (1818), Am^ Monthly Mag. and Critical Review, p. 41 ; loh. 

 Oh., 1820, 68.— KiRTLAND (1838), 6ept. Zool. Ohio, 167, 195 ; Bost. Joum. Nat. Hist., 

 iv, 1846, 336— Storbr (1846), Synopsis, 406.— Gill (1863), Proo. Bost. Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., 45 —Cope (1864), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila , 277 ; Joum. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phlla,, 1869, 237.— GuNTHER (1864), Cat. Fishes, vi, 104.— Uhler and Lugger (1876), 

 Fishes Maryland.- Jordan (1877), Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., N. Y.,— . 



Noturna luteua, Rafinesque (1819), Journ. de Physique, 421.— Jordan (1877), Bnll. U. 

 S. Nat. Mus , X., 99 ; Man. Vert,, 2d. ed., 1878, 335. 



Noturus ocddentalia, Gill (li362), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 45; (1876) Capt, ? Simpson's 

 Kept., 423.— Jordan and Copeland (1876), Check List, 160. 



Noturus platycephalua, Gunther (1864), Catalogue Pishes, v, 104. — Jordan and Cope- 

 land (1876), Check List, 160. 



Deaoription, — Body elongate ; hend depressed, broad and flat, nearly as broad as long ; 

 middle region of body subcylindrical ; tail compressed ; a strong keel on the back 

 behind the dorsal, leading to the adipose fin ; adipose fin deeply notched, but continuous 

 with the caudal fin ; dorsal spine very short ; pectoral spine retrorsely serrated in 

 front, slightly rough or nearly entire behind, its length contained three times in 

 distance from snout to dorsal ; color nearly uniform yellowish- brow», sometimes black- 

 ish above ; fins yellowish edged ; head, 4i ; width of head, 5i- ; depth, 2f ; distance from 

 snout to dorsal 3 ; anal rays, 16. Length, 10 to 15 inches. 



Habitat, Canada to Virginia, Missouri, and Montana, abounding in the larger streams. 



