568 FISHES. 



bel. Palate edentulous. Head covered with skin above. Ven- 

 trals eight-rayed. 



The " Cat-fishes " of North America, of which about a 

 dozen different species are known. One species occurs in 

 China. Allied, but smaller forms are Hopladelus and Notw- 

 Tus, likewise from North America. 



C. PiMELODINA. 



Platystoma. — Adipose fin of moderate length ; a short dor- 

 sal fin with a pungent spine and six or seven soft rays ; anal fin 

 rather short. Snout very long, spatulate, with the upper jaw 

 more or less projecting ; the upper surface of the head not 

 covered by the skin. Barbels six ; the anterior and posterior 

 nostrils remote from each other, none with a barbel. Palate 

 toothed. Caudal forked ; ventrals six-rayed, inserted behind 

 the dorsal. 



Twelve species from South America,, some attaining a 

 length of six feet, the majority being ornamented with deep- 

 black spots or bands. Allied genera from South America, 

 likewise distinguished by a long spatulate snout, are Soruhim, 

 Hemisoruhim, and Platystomaticlithys, whilst Phractocephalus, 

 Piramutana, Platynematichthys, Pirating a, Bagropsis, and 

 Sciades, have a snout of ordinary length. The barbels of some 

 are of extraordinary length, and not rarely dilated and 

 bandlike. 



PiMELODUS. — Adipose fin well developed ; dorsal fin short, 

 with a more or less pungent spine and six rays ; anal fin short. 

 Barbels six, cylindrical or slightly compressed, none of them 

 belonging to either of the nostrils, which are remote from each 

 other. Palate edentulous. Ventrals six-rayed, inserted behind 

 the dorsal. 



Of all South American genera this is represented by the 

 greatest number of species, more than forty being well 

 characterised ; they differ chiefly with regard to the length of 

 the adipose fin and barbels, and the strength of the dorsal 



