The Nematognathi, or Catfishes 183 



properly vouched for. The sheatfish is brown in color, naked, 

 sleek, and much like an American Ameiurus save that its tail 

 is much longer and more eel-like. Another large catfish, known 

 to the ancients, but only recently rediscovered by Agassiz and 

 Garman, is Parasilurus aristotelis of the rivers of Greece. In 

 China and Japan is the very similar Namazu, or Japanese catfish, 

 Parasilurus asotus, often found in ponds and used as food. 

 Numerous smaller related catfishes, Porous (Bagrus), Pseudo- 

 bagrus, and related genera swarm in the brooks and ponds of the 

 Orient. 



In the genus Torpedo (Malapterurus) the dorsal fin is wanting. 

 Torpedo electricus, the electric catfish of the Nile, is a species 

 of much interest to anatomists. The shock is like that of a 

 Leyden jar. The structures concerned are noticed on p. 186, 



FIG. 146. Electric Catfish, Torpedo electricus (Gmelin). Congo River. 

 (After Boulenger.) 



Vol. I. The generic name Torpedo was applied to the electric 

 catfish before its use for the electric ray. 



In South America a multitude of genera and species cluster 

 around the genus Pimelodus. Some of them have the snout 

 very long and spatula te. Most of them possess a very long 

 adipose fin. The species are generally small in size and with 

 smooth skin like the North American catfishes. Still other 

 species in great numbers are grouped around the genus Doras. 

 In this group the snout projects, bearing the small mouth at 

 its end, and the lateral line is armed behind with spinous shields. 

 All but one of the genera belong to the Amazon district, Syno- 

 dontis being found in Africa. 



Concerning Doras, Dr. Giinther observes: "These fishes 

 have excited attention by their habit of traveling during the 

 dry season from a piece of water about to dry up in quest of a 

 pond of greater capacity. These journeys are occasionally 

 of such a length that the fish spends whole nights on the way, 



