1 64 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Teretribns niacrolepidotus Abbott, Am. Nat., IV, 1870, p. 117. 

 Teretulus macrolepidotus Abbott, 1. c, p. 390. 



Myxostoma macrolepidotinn Jordan, An. N. Y. Acad. Sci., I, 

 1879, p. 115- 



Myxostoma macrolepidofa Abbott, Nat. Rambles, 1885, p. 479. 



? Carpiodes cyprimts Abbott, 1. c. 



Order NEMATOGNATHI. 



The Cat Fishes. 



Represented in our waters by a single family, the Sihtridcc or 

 true cat fishes. 



Family SILURID^. 



The Cat Fishes. 



Body more or less elongate. Anterior part of head with twO' or 

 more barbels, base of longest pair formed by small or rudi- 

 mentary maxillary. Margin of upper jaw formed by premaxil- 

 laries only. Subopercle absent. Opercle present. Air-vessel 

 usually present, large, and connected with organ of hearing by 

 means of auditory ossicles. Lower pharyngeals separate. Body 

 naked or covered with bony plates, no true scales. Dorsal fin 

 usually present, short, above or in front of ventrals. An adipose 

 fin usually present. Anterior rays of dorsals and pectorals usually 

 spinous. 



A large family, mostly in the fresh waters of warm regions.. 

 Most of the marine forms are tropical. They are valued as food- 

 fishes, though in some places are not used on account of their 

 foul habits. 



Key to the genera. J 



a. Tachysurin^. Nostrils close together, neither with a barbel, and pos- 

 terior with a valve ; teeth on palate ; caudal forked ; chiefly marine. 



I^ELICHTHYS 



aa. IcTALURiN^. Nostrils remote from each other ; posterior nostril with 

 a barbel ; no teeth on vomer or palatine ; caudal usually rounded ; fresh- 

 water species. 



h. Adipose fin with its posterior margin free. amEiurus 



hh. Adipose fin keel-like, adnate to back. SCHII.BEODES 



