CLASS PISCES. 403 



and the species are far too different inter se, not to 

 oblige us to divide and subdivide it. 

 We first of all distinguish 



Bagrus, 



Which have in each jaw a band of small and crowded 

 teeth, and behind those of the upper jaw a parallel 

 band which appertains to the vomer. The number 

 of their barbels, and the form of their head, serve as 

 characters for subdivision. 



Among those which have eight barbels, there are 

 some with an oblong and depressed head \ 



Some have the head broad and short 2 . 



Among those with six barbels, the most remarkable 

 have the muzzle depressed and broad, as much as, 

 and more so than the pike 3 . 



Others have the head oval, and its shagreened 

 bones form a sort of helmet 4 . 



Others have it round and not helmeted, but covered 

 only with a naked skin \ 



1 Sit. Bayad. Forsk. Porcus Bayad., Geoff., Egypt., Poiss., 

 pi. xv. f. 1 and 2. Sit. docmac, Forsk., Geoffr. ib. 3, 4. Pimelo- 

 dus aor, Buchan. xx. 68. 



2 Sit. erythropterus, Bl. 369. 2. Pimel. carasius, Buchan. xi. 

 67. Pim. gulio, Id. xxiii. 66. Pirn, carcio, Id. i. 72. Pirn. 

 nangra, Id. xi. 63 ? 



3 Sil. lima, Bl., Schn. Sit. fasciatus, Bl. 366, and divers new 

 species. Spix forms of this division his genus Sorubim. 



4 Pimtlode aboureal, Geoff., Egyp. Poiss. pi. xiv. f. 3. and 4. 

 Pimel. bilineatus, Deddi-Jallah, Russel, 169. 



5 These species are new. 



D(l 2 



