CLASS PISCES. 409 



"dorsal ; the caudal is distinct ; those which are known 

 have eight barbels ; they come from the Nile, the 

 Senegal, and from some rivers of Asia. Their flesh 

 is not good. 



Some, Macropteronotes, Lacep., Clarias, Gronov., 

 have but a single dorsal, altogether radiated. 



One of them, the Sharmuth, or Black-fish, Silurus 

 anguillaris, Hasselq. and Linn., is common in Egypt 

 and Syria, and constitutes in this last country a prin- 

 cipal article of food \ 



Others have a radiated and an adipose dorsal 2 . 



Plotosus, Lacep., 



Are characterized by a second radiated dorsal, very 

 long, as well as the anal, and both are united to the 

 caudal to form a point as in the eel. Their lips are 

 fleshy and pendant ; their throat is armed in front 

 with conical teeth, behind which are globular ones, 

 which at the upper jaw appertain to the vomer. A 

 thick skin envelopes their head, as well as the rest of 

 the body ; their branchial membrane has nine or ten 

 rays. 



Those which are known come from the East Indies. 



1 Add Macropt. magur., Buch. xxvi. the same as the Silurus, 

 named anguillaris, by Patr. Russel, 168. Silurus balrachus, Bl. 370. 

 1, which may well be the same as the Macropferonete brun, Lacep. 

 V. ii. 2. The Hcxacircine, Id. ib. 3, has but six barbels, but we 

 have it only from Chinese drawings. 



2 The Hale (Helcrobrauchus bidorsalis), Geoff. Eg. Poiss. du Nil. 

 pi. xvi. f. 2. 



