ICTALURUS CHANNEL-CATS 179 



at Alton, where the smaller channel-cat (7. punctatus) is known as 

 "fiddler," and fished for with special small nets. It is rare in the 

 Illinois River and the smaller tributaries of the Mississippi in this 

 state. It grows to a great size, specimens weighing as much 

 as 150 lb* being occasionally caught, although the average size of 

 the larger ones taken is only IS to 20 lb. It is commonly known 

 as the "Fulton" or "blue cat" by Mississippi River fishermen. It is 

 called "white Fulton" by those who apply to the smaller species 

 (/. punctatus) the name "blue Fulton" ; and "Mississippi cat" is the 

 name given it by some Illinois River fishermen. 



It frequents the deeper waters of the river channels, coming out 

 into the shallower sloughs and backwaters in spring. A speci- 

 men examined by Dr. Kofoid had eaten fragments of bark (twenty 

 per cent.), insect fragments and larvae (fifty per cent.), and miscel- 

 laneous organic debris. The senior author found fishes only in the 

 stomach of a specimen taken in 1887. The breeding habits of the 

 species are not known. It is caught on trot-lines baited with hick- 

 ory-shad, mooneye, or crawfish (Louisiana)., and in fykes and bait 

 nets . In the words of Dr . Jordan : ' ' The flesh is of excellent quality , 

 firm and flaky, of very delicious flavor, nutritious in a high degree, 

 and always commanding a high price. * * * It is of all the cat- 

 fishes the one most deserving of cultivation and popular favor, and 

 which could with profit be introduced into other countries." 



ICTALURUS ANGUILLA Evermann & Kendall 



Evermann & Kendall, 1897, Bull. XJ. S. Fish Comm., 125. 

 J. & E.. III. 2788. 



Body robust, head broad, the back little elevated, the contour from 

 occiput to adipose fin being almost straight and parallel with median axis ; 

 depth 4. 7 in length; profile steep from snout to postorbital region, from - 

 which point the elevation to dorsal is slight and gradual. Length of 

 single specimen obtained 24 inches; others of somewhat larger size,weigh- 

 ing 10 to 12 pounds, reported by fishermen about Henry, Illinois. Color 

 slaty olive, darker above, yellowish on sides; anal and caudal dark-edged. 

 Head large, broad, and heavy, much as in species of Ameiurus, the cheeks 

 and postocular portion unusually prominent ; length of head 4.1; width 

 4.7 in length of body; interorbital space somewhat concave, a deep 

 groove extending backward to front of dorsal; bones of top of head cov- 

 ered heavily with flesh and thick skin; mouth broad, upper jaw longer 

 than lower; maxillary barbels scarcely reaching gill-opening, other barbels 



♦These large specimens were formerly thought to belong to another species 

 (Ameiurus nigricans, ponderosus, etc.), but have recently been shown by'Dr. Ever- 

 mann not to be distinct. 



