The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 175 



long. Like the others of its family, it thrives 

 well in the aquarium. The Black Catfish is 

 found in rivers, ponds and ditches in Florida. 



The White, or Channel Catfish (Ictalurus 

 albidus), is of a pale olive color turning to 

 bluish silvery below. The body is slender 

 and slightly compressed. The head is of a 

 conical shape and longer than wide, with a 

 narrow mouth surrounded by barbels. The 

 upper jaw projects considerably over the 

 lower. It is found in ponds and rivers be- 

 tween Pennsylvania and North Carolina. 



The Spotted Catfish (Pimelodus maculatus) 

 is of rather compact shape in comparison 

 with other species of its family. The head 

 is long and very rough to the touch. Fleshy, 

 threadlike organs (barbels) placed around 

 the mouth are a characteristic of the whole 

 catfish family. Those on the upper lip of 

 the Spotted Catfish are very long and two in 

 number ; those on the lower lip, four in num- 

 ber, are very much shorter. The color of 

 this fish is a clear grayish brown, changing 



