62 



ml", second opposite the anal. Body compressed behind, vent 

 posterior" or sub medial. Operculum simple. 



The fishes belonging to this group are common throughout 

 the United Stales, the Silurtth eattca of Linneus, which is not 

 found in the Ohio, belongs also to it. They are sedentary in 

 the Ohio and branches, and very voracious, feeding on all 

 smaller fishes: they are easily taken with the hook-; their flesh 

 is esteemed, and, although it is somewhat tough in the largest 

 species, it wake* notwithstanding excellent soup. These fishes 

 often come to a gteat size, and live to a great age. The name 

 of Icthlurus, means Cat-fish in Greek. 



1st Section. Ku.iors. Tail forked. Eyes elliptical. Ab- 

 dominal fins with less than nine rays. 



69th Species. Si'ottkd Cattish. Pimelodus inaculaius, 

 Pimelode tachetc. 



Upper jaw longer, lateral barbs black, reaching the dorsal 

 fin. Eyes elliptical. Body whjtish with small unequal brown 

 *pots on the sides; vent submedial: tail unequally forked, up- 

 per lobe longer. Pectoral fins fenestrated. Anal fin longitu- 

 dinal with 27 ray£. Lateral line straight. 



Si/urns maculatus. Monogr. sp. 1. 



One of the small species, commonly about oiv for.t Ion?* and 

 blender, never reaching a large size. Vulgar names Spotted, 

 White, and Channel Catfish. It is found as far as Pittsburgh, 

 but is not very common. Flesh very good. Head long and 

 -flat, olivaceous rufous above,' jaws rounded, lips thick. Upper 

 barbs the shortest and white; the exterior inferior ones long 

 and black at the end. Iris elliptical white. Body somewhat 

 attenuated behind, entirely silvery white. Belly white, flatten- 

 «d, without spots or shades. Sides with- gilt and blue shades, 

 besides the brown spots. Back unspotted, pale, rufescent. 

 Latcial line not reaching the gills and slightly raised upwards 

 •at the base. First dorsal fin with six soft rays. Pectoral fins 

 with five, spiny ray longer, very thick, and united to the fin by a 

 ■fenestrate web on the inner serrate side. Abdominal oboval 

 and with 8 rays. Caudal with 20. Lobes acute. All the fins 

 ledish, marginated, or tipped with brown. Tail marginated. 

 Adipose fins brown. 



