SILURIDA, — XXIV. 41 
and Texas, common, the best known of the smaller Cat-fishes. In- 
troduced into the rivers of Cal. (Lat., clouded.) 
Jf. Pectoral spines short, 2} to 3 in head (longest in the young); A. 17 
to 19. 
57. A. melas (Rafinesque). Adult very plump; young more 
slender. Color usually blackish, A. short and deep, its rays 
usually 17 to 19, its base nearly 5 in length, its pale rays forming a 
sharp contrast with the dusky membranes. N. Y. to Kansas, gen- 
erally common ; very close to A. nebulosus. (pédas, black.) 
38. GRONIAS Cope. (ypavy, cavern.) 
58. Gy, nigrilabris Cope. Upper parts, jaws, and fins black; 
eyes nearly hidden by thick skin; barbels and spines rather short. 
A. 18, Cave stream, tributary to Conestoga R., E. Penn. A 
recent descendant of A. melas or nebulosus, rendered blind by 
subterranean life. (Lat. niger, black; labrum, lip.) 
39. LEPTOPS Rafinesque. (Aemrés, thin; dy, face.) 
59. L. olivaris (Rafinesque). Mup Car. Frat-weap Car. 
Russian Cat. Basnaw. Govson. Yellowish, much mottled 
with brown. Body slender, the head broad and much depressed, 
the lower jaw projecting ; barbels short; dorsal spine very weak ; 
pectoral spines strong; anal short. A. 12 to 15. C. scarcely 
emarginate. A very large species, reaching 75 pounds, abundant 
in sluggish streams, Ohio to Ga. and S. W. A good food fish, of 
unprepossessing appearance. 
40. NOTURUS Rafinesque. Stone Cats.1 (véros, back ; 
ovpa, tail.) 
a, Premaxillary band of teeth with lateral backward processes, as in Leptops. 
(Noturus.) 
60. N. flavus (Rafinesque). Yellowish brown, nearly uniform ; 
body elongate; head broad and flat; barbels short; adipose fin 
deeply notched ; a keel on back before it; D. spines short; P. 
spine retrorse-serrate in front, roughish behind; A. 16. L. 12. 
Ontario to Va., Neb., and Tenn., not rare in large streams. (Lat., 
yellow.) 
aa. Premaxillary band of teeth without backward processes. (Schilbeodes 
Bleeker.) r 
6. Pectoral spine serrate on its posterior edge, roughish in front; adipose fin 
notched. 
1 These little fishes abound in small brooks among logs and weeds. The wounds 
produced by the sting of their sharp pectoral spines are excessively painful. In the 
axil is usually a pore, probably the opening of a duct from a poison gland. This 
matter deserves invey* ‘gation. 
