REPRINT OF ORIGINAL TEXT 121 



in the largest species, it makes notwithstanding ex- 

 cellent soup. These fishes often come to a great size 

 and live to a great age. The name of Ictalurus, 

 means Cat-fish in Greek. 



i st Section. Elliops. Tail forked. Eyes ellip- 

 tical. Abdominal fins with less than nine rays. 



69th Species. Spotted Catfish. Pimelodus macu- 

 latus. Pimelode tachete. 



Upper jaw longer, lateral barbs black, reaching the 

 dorsal fin. Eyes elliptical. Body whitish with 

 small unequal brown spots on the sides ; vent sub- 

 medial: tail unequally forked, upper lobe longer. 

 Pectoral fins fenestrated. Anal fin longitudinal with 

 27 rays. Lateral line straight. 



Silurus maculatus. Monogr. sp. 1. 



One of the small species, commonly about one foot 

 long and slender, never reaching a large size. Vul- 

 gar names Spotted, White, and Channel Catfish. It 

 is found as far as Pittsburgh, but is not very com- 

 mon. Flesh very good. Head long and flat, oliva- 

 ceous rufous above, jaws rounded, lips thick. Upper 

 barbs the shortest and white ; the exterior inferior 

 ones long and black at the end. Iris elliptical white. 

 Body somewhat attenuated behind, entirely silvery 

 white. Belly white, flattened, without spots or 

 shades. Sides with gilt and blue shades, besides the 

 brown spots. Back unspotted, pale, rufescent. Lat- 

 eral line not reaching the gills and slightly raised 

 upwards [II. 357] at the base. First dorsal fin with 

 six soft rays. Pectoral fins with five, spiny ray 

 longer, very thick, and united to the fin by a fenes- 

 trate web on the inner serrate side. Abdominal 

 oboval and with 8 rays. Caudal with 20. Lobes 

 acute. All the fins redish, marginated, or tipped 



