SILUEIDjE. — XXIV. 41 



and Texas, common, the best known of the smaller Cat-fishes. In- 

 troduced into the rivers of Cal. (Lat., clouded.) 



ff. Pectoral spines short, 2J to 3 in head (longest in the young) ; A. 17 

 to 19. 



57. A. melaa (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. (iieKas, black.) 



38. GRONIAS Cope, (y/xuo), cavern.) 



58. G. 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 Couestoga K,, E. Penn. A 

 recent descendant of A. melas or nebulosus, rendered blind by 

 subterranean life. (Lat. niger, black; labrum, lip.) 



39. LEPTOPS Kafinesque. (XeTrros, thin ; oSi|/-, face.) 



59. L. olivaris (Kafinesque). Mud Cat. Flat-head Cat. 

 Russian Cat. Bashaw. Goujon. 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.^ (vSitos, back ; 

 ovpd, tail.) 



li. Premaxillarj' 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., 

 (rellow.) 



%a. Premaxillary band of teeth without backward processes. (Schilbeodes 

 Bleeker.) 

 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 shai-p 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 invep"* '.gation. 



