406 ORDER MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALLS. 



There are also some with an elongated muzzle '. 



It is even sometimes pointed, and almost without 

 teeth 2 . 



These pimelodi with an elongated muzzle conduct 

 us to a still more extraordinary group of 



Synodontis 3 , Cuv. 



The muzzle is narrow, and the lower jaw supports 

 a packet of teeth very much flatted laterally, terminat- 

 ing in hooks, and suspended each by a flexible pedicle ; 

 a species of dentition of which no other example is 

 known. The rude helmet, formed by the cranium of 

 these fishes, is continued without interruption, with 

 an osseous plate, which extends as far as the base of 

 the spine of the first dorsal, a spine which is very 

 strong, as are also the spines of the pectorals. Their 

 inferior barbels, or cirrhi, and sometimes even the 

 maxillaries, have lateral barbs. These fishes are found 

 in the Nile and in the Senegal. Their flesh is held in 

 no esteem 4 . 



1 The Karasche (Pirn, biscutatus) Geoffr., Egypt. Poiss. XIV. i. 2. 

 Pirn, vatrata, Buchan. xxxix. 65 ? 



2 Pirn, conirostris, Cuv. 



3 Synodontis is the ancient name of a fish of the Nile, undeter- 

 mined. 



4 Silurus clarias, Hasselquist, very different from the clarias of 

 Gronovius and Bloch ; it is the same as the Sil. sckal, Schn., Son- 

 nini, Voyag. pi. xxi. f . 2 ; or as the Pimelode scheilan, Geoff. Poiss. 

 d'Eg. pi. xiii. f. 3 and 4. Pimelodus synodonfcs, Geoff. lb. xii. f. 5. 

 Pimelodus membranaceus, Id. ib. f. 1 and 2. N.B. Schal is their 

 generic name in Lower Egypt, Gurgurm Upper Egypt. 



