CLASS PISCES. 407 



Ageneiosus, Lacep., 



Have all the characters of the pimelodi, except that 

 they want barbels, or cirrhi, properly so called. 



In some, the maxillary bone, instead of being pro- 

 longed into a fleshy and flexible barbel, sticks up like 

 a dentated horn l . 



In others it makes no projection, and remains con- 

 cealed under the skin. The dorsal and pectoral spines 

 are not very apparent 2 . 



Doras, Lacep., 



Are Maclwirans, or Mysti, that is siluri with a second 

 adipose dorsal. The lateral line is cuirassed with a 

 range of osseous pieces, raised each with a spine or 

 projecting keel. Their dorsal and pectoral spines are 

 very strong, and powerfully dentated. Their helmet 

 is rough, and is continued as far as the dorsal, as in 

 the schals, and their humeral bone forms a point 

 behind. 



Some have only the band of small and crowded 

 teeth in the upper jaw 3 . 



1 Silurus militaris, Bl. 362. 



2 Sit. inermis, Bl. 363, Seb. III. xxix. 8. Pimel. silondia, 

 Buchan. vii. 50. 



N.B. The Silurus ascita, L., ad. f'r. pi. xxx. f. 2. 2. is but a com- 

 mon pimelodus, issuing from the egg, the yolk of which has not yet 

 completely re-entered the abdomen. Linnaeus has taken this yolk 

 for an ovary, and his error has been paraphrased by Bloch ; by a 

 typographical error also Linnaeus has attributed four barbels to the 

 upper jaw : his figures place them at the lower. 



3 Silurus cos talus, Lin., Bl. 376, and Gronov. v. 1, 2, which is 



