172 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE :\IUSEU^I. 



pectoral spine. Nasal barbel reaching posterior margin of orbit. 

 Outer mental barbel but little shorter than maxillary, and inner 

 mental barbel half way to origin of pectoral. Interorbital space 

 broad, depressed. Gill-rakers 3 + 8, lanceolate, and longest 

 equals pupil. Origin of spinous anal about midway between tip 

 of snout and middle of base of anal, and spine }i of longest 

 dorsal ray. Anal inserted midway between origin of pectoral 

 and base of caudal. Caudal rounded, with many rudimentary 

 rays. Pectoral reaching opposite origin of second dorsal ray, and 

 spine reaching opposite origin of dorsal spine. Ventral inserted 

 just behind base of last dorsal ray and reaching vent, close in 

 front of anal. Color uniform dusky-brown, and fins mostly 

 with pale dusky. Iris pale slaty. Length 5 inches. Cross wicks 

 Creek near Trenton. 



Very abundant in the tributaries of the Delaware, either in or 

 above tide-water. The living fish is brown, which, together with 

 the absence of dark edges to the fins and the usually deeper or 

 more robust body, will at once distinguish it from the following 

 species. It is also apparently more abundant, though both are 

 found associated. The}- like the concealment of long grass, or 

 such as may be afforded by weedy pools, especially when in direct 

 comunication with larger bodies of water. It does not reach so 

 large a size as Schilheodes insignis, and I have not taken exam- 

 ples above 5 inches in length. The young are like the adults, and 

 are distinguished from the young of Schilheodes insignis in the 

 same manner. These small cat fish are dangerous to handle, 

 as their small spines are capable of inflicting painful wounds. The 

 pectoral spines are also furnished with a poison apparatus to 

 increase distress. I have a small example which was said to have 

 been found on a window after a storm during the spring of 1873. 

 Prof. Ulric Dahlgren has found it near Trenton. 



Noturus gyrinus Abbott, Am. Nat., IV, 1870, p. 718. — Abbott, 

 Nat. Rambles, 1885, P- 479- 



Schilheodes gyrinus E. Smith, Trans. Linn. Soc. N. Y., IX, 

 1897, p. 20. 



