CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 673 



ARIUS, Cuv. & Val. 

 (Ariopsis, Gill.) 

 A. felis, L. (milberti, Cuv. & Val.) Sea Catfish. 



Anterior and posterior nostrils close together ; lower jaw has 

 four barbels; skull with fontanelle; dorsal fin short, rays 

 seven ; adipose free behind ; tail forked ; bony bucklers in neck 

 region ; steel blue above, silvery below ; mouth small. Length, 

 24 inches. Cape Cod to Florida ; common southward. 



" It is somewhat doubtful if this species is met with on our 

 coast, although said to have been taken at New York." 



^LURIOHTHYS. Bd. & Grd. 

 ^. marinus. Mitch. Oceanic Catfish. Gafl'-topsail. 



Lower jaw with two barbels ; maxillary barbels long ; large 

 fontanelle ; spines end in a filament. Cape Cod to Mexico. 



" This large ocean species is at times very common along our 

 coast, and is frequently met with of immense size. It has been 

 known to ascend our rivers, but not farther up the Delaware, 

 we believe, than Philadelphia." 



Order EVENTOGNATHI. 



(PLECTOSPONDYLI.) 



Physostomes with opercular bones all present, and a symplectic; 

 no interclavicle ; four anterior vertebrse co-ossified. 



Family CATOSTOMIDiE. 



Suckers. 



Jaws toothless ; brain case extends between the orbits ; numerous 

 pharyngeal teeth ; maxillaries form part of upper jaw ; head conoid ; 

 mouth protractile, with fleshy lips ; branchiostegals three ; four gills 

 and a posterior slit ; head naked ; body with cycloid scales ; dorsal 

 fin long; anal short; caudal forked; air-bladder with transverse 

 constrictions ; flesh full of small bones and of poor flavor. 



2s 



