~ 
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YELLOW STONE CAT. 7199 
obliquely rounded base; numerous rudimentary rays in front of it both above and 
below; anal fin short, with 12 to 20 rays; ventrals rounded, nine rayed; pectoral fins 
with a sharp spine, either smooth, grooved or dentate behind; vent some distance in 
front of anal fin; lateral line complete. 
The species are numerous and of small size. The group is less homogeneous than 
Ichthelurus and Amiurus. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF NOTURUS. 
*Premaxillary band of teeth with a strong backward process on each side (subgenus 
Noturus). 
a. Pectoral spine serrate in front, nearly entire behind ; adipose fin notched. 
FLAVUS. 23. 
**Premaxillary band of teeth without lateral backward processes (subgenus 
Schilbeodes). 
b. Pectoral spine serrate behind, rough in front; adipose fin notched. 
e. Pectoral s spines shortish, about one-third length of head, weakly serrate; jaws 
equal. 5 5 5 6 : EXILIS. 24, 
cc. Pectoral spines very strong, more ‘ern half length of the head; upper jaw 
longer. 5 : 6 5 : MIURUS. 25. 
bb. Pectoral spine grooved teninel haieoes fin high and continuous; stout. 
SIALIS, 26, 
23. Norurus FLAvuS Rafinesque. 
Wellow Stone Cats; Common Stome Cat. 
Noturus flavus, RAFINESQUE (1818), Am. Monthly Mag. and Critica! Review, p. 41; Ich. 
Oh., 1820, 68.—KIrRTLAND (1833), Rept. Zool. Ohio, 167, 195; Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 
iv, 1846, 336 —SToORER (18463, Synopsis, 406.—GILL (1862), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. 
Hist., 45.—Copz (1664), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila, 277; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. 
Phila., 1869, 237.— GUNTHER (1864), Cat. Fishes, vi, 104.— UHLER and LuGGER (1876), 
Fishes Maryland.—JoRDAN (1877), Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., N. Y.,—. 
Noturus luteus, RAFINESQUE (1819), Journ. de Physique, 421.—JorDAN, (1877), Bull. U. 
S. Nat. Mus, x., 99; Man. Vert., 2d.ed., 1878, 335. 
Noturus occidentalis, G1Lu (162), Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 45; (1876) Capt. ? Simpson’s 
Rept., 423.— JORDAN and COPELAND (1876), Check List, 160. 
Noturus platycephalus, GUNTHER (1864), Catalogue Fishes, v, 104.—JORDAN and CopE- 
LAND (1876), Check List, 160. 
Description —Body elongate ; head depressed, broad and flat, nearly as broad as long; 
middle region of body subcylindrical ; tail compressed; a strong keel on the back 
behind the dorsal, leading to the adipose fin ; adipose fin deeply notched, but continuous 
with the caudal fin; dorsal spine very short; pectoral spine retrorsely serrated in 
front, slightly rough or nearly entire behind, its length contained three times in 
distance from snout to dorsal; color nearly uniform yellowish- brown, sometimes black- 
ish above; fins yellowish edged ; head, 44; width of head, 54; depth, 23; distance from 
snout to dorsal 3; anal rays, 16. Length, 10 to 15 inches. 
Habitat, Canada to Virginia, Missouri, and Montana, abounding in the larger streams, 
