SLY SILURUS. 



4(53 



Dr. Smith includes this species of Silurus in his Natural 

 History of the Fishes of Massachusets ; * and mentions that 

 Dr. Flint of Boston, an accurate naturalist, had seen speci- 

 mens measuring eight feet in length in the Ohio and Missis- 

 sippi rivers. 



The Silurus is represented as sluggish in its habits, and a 

 slow swimmer, taking its prey by lying in wait for it, in a 

 manner somewhat similar to the Angler, Lophius, already 

 described ; hiding itself in holes or soft mud, and apparently 

 depending upon the accidental approach of fishes or other 

 animals, of which its long and numerous barbules may be at 

 the same time the source of attraction to the victims, and the 

 means of warning to the devourer. From its own formidable 

 size, it can have but few enemies in the fresh water; and from 

 them its dark colour, in addition to its habit of secreting 

 itself either in holes or soft mud, would be a sufficient se- 

 curity. In spring, the male and female may be seen to- 

 gether, about the middle of the day, near the banks or 

 edges of the water, but soon return to their usual retreats, 

 the ova when deposited are green ; and the young are ex- 

 cluded between the sixteenth and nineteenth days. 



The flesh of the Silurus is white, fat, and agreeable to 

 many persons as food, particularly the part of the fish near 

 the tail ; but on account of its being luscious, soft, and 

 difficult to digest, it is not recommended to those who have 

 weak stomachs. In the Northern countries of Europe, the 

 flesh is preserved by drying, and the fat is used as lard. 



The two very elongated barbules of the upper lip are 

 supported by extensions of the intermaxillary bones, which 

 increases the sphere of action and consequent utility of these 

 organs of touch, by extending their influence beyond the 

 range of the shorter cirri of the lower lip. Fishes furnished 

 with these oral appendages arc known by their habits to 

 be ground-feeders ; and it may be mentioned,, as affording 



* Page IB! i. 



