SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 65 



Broad near Hot Springs, the species being recognized as a food fish and known 

 as "blue cat". 



The species attains a weight of 25 pounds, and is regarded as probably the 

 best of the cat-fishes in food value and gaminess. It takes the hook readily, and 

 affords fine sport. 



Genus AMEIURUS Rafinesque. Horned Pouts; Bullheads; Mud Cat-fishes, etc. 



Well known and abundant fishes, found in almost every pond and stream. 

 Some species have forked or lunate tails and are very similar to Ictalurus; the 

 typical species with square tails. The 5 species recorded from North Carolina 

 may be distinguished as follows: 



t. Caudal fin strongly forked catus. 



ii. Caudal fin square or slightly emarginate. 



a. Anal fin long, 22-27 rays, its base more than . 25 total length. 

 aa. Anal fin shorter, 15-22 rays, its base less than . 25 total length. 



&. Form elongate, back elevated, pectoral and dorsal spines very long erebennua. 



66. Form robust, back low, pectoral and dorsal spines moderate naialis. 



c. Body stout, rather short or moderately elongate, depth contained 3.5 to 4.5 times 



in total length, head not markedly flat nebviosus. 



ce. Body very long and slender, depth .12 to .20 total length, head broad and very 

 flat platycephalus 



(Ameiurus, not curtailed, in allusion to unnotched caudal fin.) 



33. AMEIURUS OATUS (Linnaeus). 



"White Oat-fish"; "Black Oat-fish"; "Bullhead"; "Greek Oat-fish"; 

 "River Oatflsh" ; "Forktailed Oat-fish"; Channel Oat-fish. 



Silurue catus LiniiEeus, Systema Naturae, ed. x, 305, 1758; northern part of America. 

 Ameiurus niveiventris Cope, 1870&, 488; Neuse River. Jordan, 18896, 128: Neuse River. 



Ameiurus aWidus, Jordan, 18896, 134; Yadkin River. Smith, 1893a, 190, 193, 198; Albemarle Sound and trib- 

 utaries. 

 Ameiurus catus, Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 138. Evermann & Cox, 1896, 304; Neuse River. 



Diagnosis. — Form robust, the depth contained 3.5 to 3.75 times in total length; head 

 rather greater than depth, in adults the head larger and wider and the mouth wider than in 

 any other species; maxillary and mandibular barbels long; humeral process very rough; dorsal 

 rays i,6; anal rays 19 to 22; caudal forked, upper lobe longer. Color: variable; back whitish, 

 gray, bluish, or black; below white or silvery, {catus, cat.) 



This species, whose form and color vary with age and environment, inhabits 

 coastwise fresh waters from New Jersey to Texas. In North Carolina it is 

 recorded from Albemarle Sound and tributaries, the Neuse, and the Yadkin, 

 being especially abundant in the first-named region. The maximum length is 2 

 feet. 



In Pasquotank River, under the name of "white cat", the fishermen recog- 

 nize fish having a milky or dusky color, dull red fins with dark edges, and white 

 iris, which are most common in the lower part of the river, where they seem par- 

 tial to the sandy shoals, whence, probably, their bleached appearance. Between 

 these light-colored fish and the very dark ones of the upper river called "black 

 cats", there is a complete gradation. The main run of alewives in this river is 

 always followed by a noticeable increase in the abundance of this cat-fish, and 



