180 FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



short; eye small, 8 in head, situated near upper surface of skull. Dorsal 

 fin low, its longest ray little more than \ of head; the spine short and 

 robust, about 3 in head; dorsal distance 3 in body. Caudal moderately 

 forked, the lobes not much pointed. Anal fin with 25 rays, its free margin 

 symmetrically rounded. Pectoral spine short and robust, with strong 

 retrorse teeth on its posterior edge; humeral process about 2\ in pectoral 

 spine. 



This species is here described from a single specimen, obtained in 

 Senachwine Lake, near Henry, in August, 1903. Since then, several 

 specimens have been seen by us at Alton and Grafton, where it is not 

 rare in fyke-net catches made in May and June. H. L. Ashlock, of 

 Alton, says that fishes of this species weighing 26 lb are taken at 

 Alton and Grafton, where it is sometimes called "nigger-lips" by the 

 fishermen. Its flesh is said by Dr. Evermann to be firm and of ex- 

 cellent flavor. 



ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS (Rafinesque) 

 (channel-cat; fiddler) 



Rafinesque, 1818, Amer. Month. Mag., 359, (Silurus). 



G.,V, 102 (Amiurus caudafurcatus) ; J. & G., 108; M.V., 39; J. &E..I, 134; N., 50; 

 J., 66 (Ichthaelurus punctatus and robustus) ; F., 82; F. F., II. 7, 456; L., 9. 



Body slender, scarcely compressed, and the back very little elevated, 

 depth 4 . 2 to S in length, usually nearer S than 4 ; profile long and almost 

 straight, very slightly convex, the elevation 16° to 18°, that from nape to 

 dorsal somewhat less than elevation from snout to nape. One of the larger 

 catfishes, reaching a weight of 20 to 25 pounds. Head and upper parts 

 of body dark to lighter olive, with coppery luster on cheeks and sides 

 above lateral line; sides below lateral line light olive with much silvery 

 luster and with small spots of darker; belly pearl-gray in region of ven- 

 trals, more yellowish forward; maxillary barbels black, chin barbels 

 whitish or ashen; fins, except ventrals and pectorals, greenish, the anal 

 with a silvery band at base; ventrals and pectorals a smoky greenish 

 gray. Head small, slender, subconic, its length 3.6 to 4 in body, its 

 greatest depth less than in /. anguilla, 4 . 9 to 5 . 2 in body ; interorbital space 

 flat or slightly convex ; occipital region and shoulders gently rounded and 

 covered with thin, close-fitting skin; mouth more nearly terminal than in 

 anguilla, the upper jaw only slightly longer than the lower; lips somewhat 

 thicker than in preceding species; maxillary barbels long and slender, 

 reaching past gill-opening; eye oval, lying above median axis of body and 

 nearer upper than lower surface of head; diameter of orbit 4 to 8 in head. 

 Dorsal fin high, placed a little nearer snout than adipose, distance from 

 snout to dorsal 2.5 to 2.7 in length ; dorsal spine usually rather more 

 robust and shorter than in /. furcatus, 1.4 to 2.2 in head, its posterior 

 edge usually almost smooth. Caudal fin deeply forked, the upper lobe 

 longer and more slender than the lower. Anal fin short, composed of 24 



