THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 171 



in the small streams and large creeks. Though a good food-fish, 

 it is frequently held in low esteem on account of its habits as a 

 scavenger. It is to be found in either clear or muddy water if 

 still, either in tide-water or above, and frequently numerous about 

 the mouths of sewers. Those found in the smaller streams, 

 brooks and ponds are often smaller, and in the latter one may find 

 them sometimes very abundant, or in large schools moving slowly 

 along the bottom all closely herded together. They rest in the 

 concavities of deep pools in this fashion, and it is seldom that a 

 net fails to dislodge a number of them. 



Ameiums nehiilosiis Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. H., IX, 1897, p. 

 332. — Evermann, Recreation, April, 1902, p. 292, 



Amiurus dekayi Abbott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 

 p. 95.— Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 826.— Abbott, Am. Nat., 

 IV, 1870, pp. 386, 390. 



Amiurus atrarius Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 826. 



Genus Schii.beodes Bleeker. 



The Mad Toms. 



Key to the species. 



a. Body rather short and thick; depth 4 to sV^ ', fiiis uniform. gyrinus 



aa. Body elongate; depth about 6; fins with dark margins. insignis 



Schilbeodes gyrinus (Mitchill). 



Stone Cat. Little Cat Fish. Poison Cat Fish. Mud Cat Fish. 



Head 334 ; depth S'^VV ; D. I, 7, i; A. iii, 13, i; width of head 

 i>4 in its length; snout 2^; eye 6; width of mouth 2; inter- 

 orbital space 2j^ ; third dorsal ray 2 ; fourth branched anal ray 

 2% ; caudal ij^ ; pectoral i^ ; ventral 2j^ ; least depth of caudal 

 peduncle 2^/15. Body comparatively short, deep and robust. 

 Head large, depressed. Snout short, broad and depressed. Eye 

 a little longer than deep, a little anterior. Mouth broad, with 

 broad fleshy lips. Upper jaw projecting a little. Teeth fine, 

 pointed, in bands in jaws. Maxillary barbel reaching axil of 



