1. MAD TOM (Schilbeodes miurus).

2. GAFF-TOPSAIL CATFISH (Felichthys marinus). 3. SEA CATFISH (Galeichthys felis).

4. EUROPEAN CATFISH OR WELS (Silurus glanis).

5. STONE CATFISH (Noturus flavus).

6. BLACK BULLHEAD (Ameiurus melas).

a group of physostomous (soft-rayed) fishes of both salt and fresh waters, comprising the order Nematognathi and the family Silurida and its allies. "The fishes of this order," writes Dr. D. S. Jordan, "agree in having the maxillary bone imperfectly developed, and forming the basis of a long, fleshy feeler or barbel [and in] the presence, in most cases, of additional pairs of barbels about the mouth, near the tip of the upper or the lower jaw, or both; the absence of scales and the presence in many species, especially those found in tropical waters, of bony plates. These sometimes form a more or less perfect coat of mail on the sides of the body; at other times they form a shield on the top and back of the head. Another feature is the development, in most cases, of the first ray in the dorsal and pectoral fins as a strong, stiff, sharp, serrated spine which forms an effective weapon of defense. The spines of the pectoral fins are strongest, and they are usually 'set' that is, firmly erected-whenever the fish is caught or attacked. These spines are a source of much annoyance to fishermen, and there are few persons in the Eastern States who have not had some painful experience with the 'horns' of a catfish." The wounds made by these spines often heal with difficulty, owing to the jagged nature of the cut and to the slime introduced; in one genus (Noturus), however, a poison-gland is connected with the pectoral spine. They use the spine in ugly fights among themselves. The catfishes inhabit the fresh waters and shallow coastal waters of the warmer parts of America, Africa, and the Orient, but are represented by only a single European species, the typical silurus of the Latins, and the sheat fish of English writers. (See SHEATFISH.) They vary from two inches to a dozen feet or more in length, and may exceed 200 pounds in weight. Most of them are good food, and everywhere enter into the diet of the people. In habits they are comparatively sluggish, remain close to the bottom, and are carnivorous and voracious, eating eggs and fry of aquatic animals, and seizing such fishes, amphibians, and birds as they can overcome. Few are swift swimmers, but they lurk in wait for prey, being almost invisible by reason of their dull, dark colors, and making a quick rush; consequently, the larger ones are among the most destructive enemies of aquatic life.

The North American catfishes have the skin wholly naked, and are familiarly represented by the horned pout. (See BULLHEAD.) The same genus (Amiurus) contains several other species often termed mud-cats. The stone-cats belong to the genus Noturus, are small, comparatively slender, dark-hued, and inflict poisoned wounds. Another genus, the channel-cats (Ictalurus), dwell in running streams and lakes, and include many large forms, the fork-tailed catfish of the Great Lakes (Ictalurus lacustris) sometimes weighing 100 pounds; while the 'white' channel-cat (Ictalurus ponderosus) of the Mississippi River Valley may grow to 150 pounds, and become the largest of our fresh-water fishes except the California sturgeon. An illustrated monograph of the fresh-water species, by Dr. D. S. Jordan, will be found in Bulletin No. 10 (1877) of the United States National Museum at Washington. The sea-catfish are closely allied to the channel-cats, and two species are

VOL. IV.-22.

common along the Atlantic coast, both 2 to 5 feet long, and blue above with silvery bellies; but more than 100 species of this marine group, which haunt sandy bottoms near shore and furnish poor food, are scattered through the tropics, especially in the East Indies.

The South American fresh waters abound in catfishes of the genus Pimelodus and its allies, the largest species of which is the leopardcat, or suravi (Pimelodus frati), from rivers of Argentina and Uruguay, which is 6 to 7 feet long, and yellow, spotted with black. Another characteristic South American group is that of the mailed cats, of the genus Callichthys, in which the body is almost entirely covered by four rows of large, hard, narrow, scaly plates, two rows on each side, and the head is well covered with bony plates. They are said to be able to make their way over land from a pool which may be drying up to another some distance away; sometimes they bury themselves in the mud of wet meadows. They build their nests near the margin of the water, at the beginning of the rainy season, both sexes guarding them until the eggs are hatched. The genera Doras, Loricaria, and Arges are allied groups of many species. Africa abounds in fishes of this family, of which the best known is the bayad (q.v.) of the Nile. A different Nile catfish (Malapterurus electricus) has the power of delivering an effective electric shock. (See ELECTRIC FISHES.) Many other species, some of large size, having the general characteristics outlined above, haunt the sluggish rivers and estuaries of India, Siam, China, and the larger islands thence to Australia, with varying importance as food. Among these is notable the eel-like genus Clarias, 'eel-pouts,' about thirty species of which are known, some reaching 6 feet in length. The catfishes are known as fossils well back into the Tertiary.

The name is applied to various fishes of other families; as, in England, to the wolf-fish (Anarrhichas lupus), the cusk, and one or more small sharks. In Australasia the star-gazers (Kathetostoma) are called catfish, and elsewhere the chimæras are called 'sea-cats.'

CATGUT (probably a corruption, by popular confusion with kit, cat, of kit, fiddle, apparently from AS. cytere, from Lat. cithara, Gk. Kápa, kithara, guitar, and gut, Ger. Gotte, gutter, from AS. géotan, Got. giutan, Ger. geissen, Lat. funA substance dere, Gk. xeiv, chein, to pour). employed in the manufacture of the strings of violins, harps, guitars, and other musical instruments, and also used for the cords carrying clock-weights, in the bows of archers, and for whip-cord. It is generally prepared from the intestines of sheep, rarely from those of the horse, ass, or mule, but never from those of the cat. The first stage in the operation is the thorough cleansing of the intestines from adherent feculent and fatty matters, after which they are steeped in water for several days, so as to loosen the external membrane, which can then be removed by scraping with a blunt knife. The material which is thus scraped off is employed for the cords of battledores and rackets, and also as thread in sewing the ends of intestines together. The scraped intestines are then steeped in water and scraped again, treated with a dilute solution of alkali (4 oz. potash,

4 oz. carbonate of potash, and three to four gallons of water, with occasionally a little alum), drawn through a perforated brass thimble, and assorted into their respective sizes. In order to destroy any adherent animal matter, which would lead to putrefaction and the consequent development of offensive odors, it is customary to subject the catgut to the fumes of burning sulphur (sulphurous acid). The best strings are used for musical instruments, and those which come from Italy and are known as Roman strings are the strongest. They are remarkable for their clearness and transparency. The surgeon also uses the best grades of catgut in closing wounds. Cords for clock-makers are made split longitudinally into several lengths. Whip-cord is made from catgut which has been twisted in a manner somewhat similar to single-corded ropes. CATH'ARI, or CATHARISTS (Med. Lat., from Gk. kavapóç, katharos, pure). generally given to various sects which appeared in the Church during the Middle Ages. It appears to have been sometimes assumed in profession of a purity of doctrine and morals superior to that which generally prevailed in the Church, sometimes bestowed ironically in ridicule of such a profession, and was used as a designation of the Paulicians (q.v.) of the Seventh and succeeding centuries, of sects which appeared in Lombardy in the beginning of the Eleventh Century, and afterwards in France and the west of Germany, and of the Bogomiles of the Twelfth Century. In the Eleventh Century the Patarenes appeared in Milan, and were called Cathari. The names Albigenses and Cathari are often used as equivalent to one another; in fact it is almost impossible to differentiate the various bodies known as Petrobrusians and

A name very

Arnoldists (from their leaders), or Passagers and Publicans (from different features of their morals and customs). Manicheism, Gnosticism, and Montanism are ascribed to the Cathari; but as their doctrines were a confused agglomeration of different heresies, and consequently the descriptions of contemporary writers are not always concordant, it is difficult to make out their system in detail. It appears quite certain that the Cathari differed among themselves in their doctrines, and in the degree of their opposition to the dominant Church. Some of them advocated and practiced a rigid asceticism. There is no good evidence that any of them nearly approached to the doctrines of the Reformation, although in their rejection of tradition, of the authority of Rome, of the worship of saints and images, etc., there are notable points of agreement with the views of the reformers. Consult C. Schmidt, La secte des Cathares (Strassburg, 1849); J. J. Döllinger, Sekten geschichte, Vol. II. (Munich, 1890); also H. C. Lea, History of the Inquisition (3 vols., New York, 1888).

CATH'ARINE (Fr. Catherine, Lat. Catharina, Gk. Kalapívn, Katharine from alapóc, katharos, pure). The name of six saints of the Roman Catholic Church. The simple designation of Saint Catharine, however, is given to a virgin said to have been of royal descent in Alexandria, who, publicly confessing Christianity at a sacrificial feast appointed by the Emperor Maximinus, was put to death in A.D. 307, after being tortured on a wheel. Hence the name of

'Saint Catharine's wheel.' Very remarkable le gends exist as to her converting 50 philosophers sent by the Emperor to convert her in prison, besides a multitide of other persons; the conveyance of her head by the angels to Mount Sinai, etc. She is regarded as the patroness of girls' schools. Her day is November 25 or March 5. (See her life in the publications of the Early English Text Society; also in those of the Roxburghe Club, both London, 1884).-SAINT CATHARINE OF SIENA, daughter of Jacomo Benincasa, a dyer of Siena, was born there in 1347; practiced extraordinary mortifications, and was said to have been favored with especial tokens of favor by Christ, whose wounds were impressed upon her body. (See STIGMATIZATION). She became a Dominican, and died in Rome, April 29, 1380. She wrote devotional pieces, letters, and poems, which have been more than once printed; the best edition appeared in under the title of Opere della serafica Santa Siena and Lucca, in 1707-54 (in 5 vols., 4to), Catarina. Her letters were published in French translation (Paris, 1854; best in the original, Florence, 1860, 4 vols.). In English have appeared Dialogues of the Seraphic Virgin Catherine of Siena (London, 1896); the dialogue De Perfectione is translated in Miss Drane's biography mentioned below. Consult her life by J. E. Butler, 4th ed. (London, 1895); Augusta I. Drane (London, 1880); M. A. Mignety H. V. Redern (Schwerin, 1900). (Paris, 1886); A. T. Pierson (New York, 1898);

SAINT CATHARINE OF GENOA was born in 1447 of the distinguished Genoese family Fieschi. Her Anjou. She was very beautiful. Her own wish father was viceroy of Naples under René of was to become a nun, but her parents gave her Adorno (January 13, 1463), in order to heal the in marriage to a Genoese nobleman, Giuliano breach which had come between the two families. Her married life was unhappy, and she suffered much not only from her husband's personal treatment, but from his extravagance and licentiousness. At last bankruptcy overtook him and they were reduced to poverty. Then her spiritual nature showed itself. She started on a career of philanthropy as nurse (1479), and from 1491 to 1497 was chief nurse in a great hospital. Her husband was converted through her influence, entered the third order of Saint Francis, and joined her in charitable labors. Her ascetic piety was extraordinary. It is said that from 1478 to 1500 she fasted all Advent and all Lent, and took no nourishment of any kind, but drank water mingled with vinegar and salt. She died September 15, 1510, having won so high a reputation for piety that Pope Clement XII. canonized her in 1737; and Benedict XIV. put her in the Martyrology under March 22d; but in the Acta Sanctorum she is found under September 5th. She had many ardent disciples and one of them wrote from her lips, in Italian, The Treatise on Purgatory (English trans., London, 1878). Her life, written by T. de Bussierce, prefaced a French translation of her works (Paris, 1860).

SAINT CATHARINE OF BOLOGNA and SAINT CATHARINE OF SWEDEN (1331-81), the fourth daughter of Saint Birgitta (or Bridget) of Sweden, are of less note.

CATHARINE I. (?-1727). Mistress and wife of Peter the Great, and Empress of Russia from 1725 to 1727. She was born between 1682