18 PRELIMINARY REPORT 



Ameiuriis vulgaris (Thompson). 



Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper; color dark brown or 

 even black on the upper parts and sides; lower parts lighter; anal 

 fin with 18 to 22 rays, its base contained 4 to 5 times in the body; 

 lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. Body moderately elon- 

 gated; head somewhat longer than broad; mouth large and wide; 

 maxillary barbels long; back considerably elevated; head con- 

 tained 3^ to 4 times in the length. Pectoral spines contained 2i 

 times in the head. Depth contained 4| to 5 times in the length. 

 Lenglih 18 inches. This fish is probably common in most of the 

 waters of Minnesota and is distinguished from the others of the 

 genus chiefiy by the number of rays in its anal fin and by its project- 

 ing lower law. Specimens have been taken in Lake Amelia, near 

 Ft. Snelling (Collected by Dr. Geo. D. Suckley and described as 

 Pimelodus ailurus by Ohas. Girard, U. S. Pac. E. E. Explorations, 

 Fishes, 1858, 210); Lake Minnetonka (0. H. & T. S. Eoberts, 1879); 

 Minnehaha Creek, Minneapolis and Fish-hook Lake, Hubbard Co. 

 (Nat. Hist. Surv., 1892). 

 Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). Common Boll-head. Horned Pout. 



Color varying from yellowish to black; anal fin with 21 to 22 

 rays, its length contained four times in the body; upper jaw usually 

 longer than the lower; pectoral spine contained 2 to 2^ times in the 

 head. It reaches a length of 18 inches. Not very common in Min- 

 nesota, as far as present observations have gone. It can be dis- 

 tinguished from the following only by its anal fin and the length 

 of its pectoral spines. 



Three specimens were taken in the Blue Earth Eiver, Mankato 

 (Cox, 1891) ; Bed Eiver of the North and tributaries, several (Wool- 

 man, 1892, Eeport U. S. Fish Comm., 1893, p. 369). 

 Ameiurus melas (Rafinesqne). 



Color usually black; body stout; head flat; anal fin shorter 

 than in the preceding, its rays 17 to 19 and light colored; its length 

 contained five times in the body; jaws about equal; young slender, 

 growing heavier with age. 



Very common in all the waters of Minnesota. Specimens have 

 been taken from Basset's Creek, Minneapolis (T. S. Eoberts, 1879); 

 Big Stone Lake and the Upper Minnesota River (Woolman & Cox, 

 1892); lakes and streams of the Upper Mississippi, common (Nat. 

 Hist. Surv., 1892-3); streams and lakes near Mankato, also South- 

 western Minnesota (Cox, 1892-5); Lake of the Woods, St. Louis 

 Eiver and Upper Mississippi (Woolman & Cox, 1894). 



