120 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The specimen at hand had fed on fish, insects, crustaceans (Daphnia recognized), and apparently 

 on plants. The single very young individual in the collection was taken in the Tallahatchie River 

 on June 26. 



17. Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) 

 Channel cat; Fiddler 

 Silurut punclatut Rafinesque, American Monthly Magazine, 1818, p. 359. 



This common species is represented by 11 specimens, ranging in length from 82 to 350 millimeters 

 (3*4 to 14 inches). It differs from related forms in the narrow head and snout, the prominent bony 

 ridges on the head, and in the slender caudal peduncle. This fish usually has black spots on the 

 sides, which form a ready recognition mark. These marks are wanting in all the specimens from 

 Greenwood, however, except one, and that one is very sparsely flecked. 



The channel cat, although known to enter standing and sluggish water occasionally, appears 

 to be fairly well confined in its habitat to streams. One individual at hand was taken in a sluggish 

 slough; all the others were caught in faster running water. 



According to Jordan and Evermann (1902, p. 22), the channel cat spawns in April and May 

 in Louisiana. The gonads in the two larger individuals in the present collection, taken July 14 

 and September 16, were in early stages of development. All the others were too small to have 

 reached sexual maturity. 



Four specimens were examined for food. The diet consisted of fish and insect and plant 

 fragments. The specimens were collected in Pelucia Creek, near Browning, and in a slough near 

 Lake Mclntire. 



18. Ictalurus anguilla Evermann and Kendall 

 "Forked-tail cat"; "Willow cat"; "Mud cat"; Eel cat 

 kialu.ru> anguilla Evermann and Kendall, Bull., U. S. Fish Com., XVII, 1897 (1898), p. 125, pi. 6, fig. 1. 



This species is represented in the collection by 19 specimens, ranging in length from 95 to 400 

 millimeters (3% to 16 inches), all taken in quiet waters. 



The specimens from Greenwood differ in one character from the type with which we have 

 compared them, which is constant among our specimens— namely, in the notably more anterior 

 position of the dorsal fin. In the Greenwood specimens the origin of the dorsal is much closer to 

 the tip of the snout than the origin of the adipose, and the distance from tip of snout to the origin 

 of the dorsal is equal to the space between the dorsal fins. In the type the origin of the dorsal 

 is equidistant from the tip of the snout and origin of the adipose, and the distance from the tip of 

 the snout to the origin of the dorsal is shorter than the distance between the dorsal fins. No other 

 differences of importance were noticed. The following proportions and counts are based on nine 

 specimens, ranging in length from 120 to 400 millimeters. Head 3.7 to 4.1 in length to base of 

 caudal; predorsal distance 2.75; greatest width of head 1.75 to 1.9 in predorsal distance; length of 

 snout 2.3 to 2.65 in head; width of snout at base of maxillary barbels 2.2 to 2.45; eye 4 to 7.35; 

 interorbital space 1.75 to 2.3; depth of caudal peduncle 2.55 to 2.7; dorsal spine 1.4 to 1.85; pectoral 

 spine 1.45 to 2.05. Dorsal rays I, 6; anal rays (including rudiments) 26 or 27. The color of the 

 specimens is uniformly dark. A few of them have a crowding of dark punctulations on the side, 

 making dark specks, in that respect resembling the usual color pattern of punctatus. 



This species is recognized by the low, broad head, very broad snout, low ridges on the head 

 and the deep caudal peduncle (2.55 to 2.7 in head, or 3.8 to 3.9 in predorsal distance, in anguilla; 

 2.8 to 3 in head, 4 to 4.45 in predorsal distance, in -punctatus). 



The gonads of 10 fish taken during the summer and fall were all in an early developmental 

 stage, and it is probable that spawning takes place in the spring, as in related species. 



The ingested material found in 10 specimens indicate that this fish is a voracious, carnivorous 

 feeder. The diet varied considerably but was composed largely of insects and fish. The water 

 boatman, Corixa, appeared frequently, with immature midges, dragon flies, and minute crustaceans 

 in appreciable quantities. The willow cat also ingests considerable vegetation. An unusual 

 diversity is apparent in the feeding habits of this fish, which is most evident in specimens caught 

 in lakes and ponds, where a variety of foods exists from which to choose. One willow cat, 365 



