410 ORDER MALACOPTERYG1I ABDOMINALES. 



They have eight barbels, and behind the anus and 

 the fleshy and conical tubercle common to all the 

 siluri, there is, moreover, a fleshy and ramified ap- 

 pendage, the functions of which must be singular. 



Some have the dorsal and pectoral spines dentated 

 and considerable \ 



Others have them almost concealed beneath the 

 skin 2 . 



Callichthys, Lin., in first editions. Cataphractus, Lacep., 



Have the body almost entirely cuirassed upon its 

 sides, by four ranges of scaly pieces, and there is also 

 on the head a compartment of these pieces ; but the 

 end of the muzzle is naked, as well as the under part 

 of the body ; their second dorsal has but a single ray 

 in its anterior edge ; their pectoral spine is stout, but 

 the dorsal is weak or short. The mouth is but 

 triflingly cleft, and the teeth almost imperceptible ; 

 the barbels are four in number ; the eyes small and 

 on the side of the head 3 . 



These fishes can crawl on dry land for some time, 

 like the eel. 



Some have the pectoral spine simply rough 4 . 



Others have it dentated, like the majority of the 

 siluri 5 . 



1 Platyslacus anguillaris, 131. 373. 1 ; Renard. i. fol. 3. 19. 

 - rlotosus assems , iJucnan. xv. 44. 



; N.B. Bloch unites in his genus Cataphkactus, the Doras and 

 Callichtkys, 



4 Silurus Callichthys, Bl. 377. 1. 

 ' A new species. 



