832 FISHES. 



ish. Great Lakes and tributaries, generally abundant. 

 [A. dekayi, (Grd.) Gill.] 



Var. wlurus, (Grd.) Jor. Has the head somewhat 

 narrowed forwards, the dorsal region more elevated, and 

 its spine about midway of the body. Upper Mississippi 

 River. 



ee. Jaws about equal, or the upper evidently the longer. 

 d. Eyes well developed. 

 e. Body not notably elongate. 



/. Head moderately broad; a nearly even slope from the tip 

 of the snout to the elevated base of the dorsal. 



9. A. catus, (L.) Gill. BuLL-HiiAD. Hoen' Pout. 

 SsiAiiL Cat Fish. Body rather elongate, depth 4 to 4^ 

 in length ; head broader than in the next, the front less 

 steep, but its slope more uniform; body less rapidly nar- 

 rowed behind; anal fin longer, its base 44- in body, the 

 rays 31 or 22 in number; upper jaw distinctly the 

 longer; color dark yellowish brown, varying to blackish, 

 sometimes marbled, the young often quite black. Great 

 Lakes to Maine and South Carolina, the common East- 

 ern species. {A. atrarivs, nebulosus, hoyi, etc., of 

 authors.) 



10. A. marmoratus, (Holbr,) Jor. Maebled Cat. 

 Body sharply mottled with brown, greenish and whitish; 

 the coloration therefore singular among Cat Fishes; jaws 

 equal or nearly so; depth about 4 in length; slope of 

 profile very steep; dorsal fin high; the spine more than 

 half length of head; dorsal spine nearer adipose fin than 

 snout; barbels long; branchiostegals 10; head 3 J in 

 length. South Atlantic States to Illinois. 



11. A. melas, (Raf.) Jordan & Copeland. Black 

 Cat. Body very stout, short and deep, the depth 3J to 

 4i in length; head not very broad, rather contracted 



