6& 



70th Species. Blue Catfish. Pivelochisccrulescena. Pimtr* 

 lode bleuatre. 



Upper jaw longer, lateral barbs black, shorter tban the gills. 

 Eyes elliptical. Operculum and lateral line floxuose. Body 

 of a bluish lead colour, whitish beneath, unspotted. Tail e- 

 qually forked, base redish. Anal fin arched with 25 rays, 



Hilurus cerulcscens. Mofiogr. sp. 3. 



A fine species, reaching sometimes to a very large size, I 

 have been told that one was taken weighing 185 pounds and a- 

 jiotber 2 50 pounds. Vulvar names Blue Cat and Brown Cat, 

 or Catfish. It is not uncommon m the lowest parts of the rivev. 

 Whole shape somewhat iusitorm as in all the species with a 

 forked tail, yet depressed forwards and compressed behind. Of 

 an uniform lead colour, nearly blue in the young individuals 

 and nearly brown in the old ones. Barbs rather short and White, 

 tbe upper ones very short and brown. Iris elongate and whi- 

 tish. Fins bluish; but the pectoral and abdominal whitish. 

 Spine of the pectoral fins equal in length, not fenestrate, and 

 hardly serrate inside. Number of rays, dorsal 1 and 6, pecto- 

 ral 1 and 7, abdominal 6, caudal 22. A variety has a blackish 

 tail. Vent posterior. 



• 7 1st Species. White. Catfish. PhnclodusfiaUidus.Vivne. 

 lode pale. 



Upper jaw longer, lateral barbs reaching the pectoral fms» 

 Eyes elliptical. Lateral line straight. Body whitish, back 

 slightly olivaceous. Tail nearly ccpially forked. Anal fin elon> 

 gate with 25 rays. 



Silarus pallidas. Monogr. sp. 2. 



Vulgar names white and channel Catfish: this last name is 

 given to it because it dwells principally in the channels or deep- 

 er parts of the river. Length from one two to feet. Shape as 

 in the foregoing. Head smaller, olivaceous above. Barbs 

 white. Iris white. First dorsal fin nearer to the abdominal 

 fins, yellowish, rays 1 and 6. Pectorals yellowish, rays 1 and -7. 

 Abdominals white with six rays. Adipose fin olive with a brown 

 tip. Anal and caudal pale brown, 24 rays in the tail, which 

 lias the upper acute lobe slightly longer. It offers some vari- 

 eties. 1st. Marginal. Tail fulvous, marguratcd, with black 



