216 



PISCES. 



PiMELODus, properly so called. 



The band of teeth in the vomer parallel to that in the upper jaw 

 is wanting, but teeth are frequently observed in the palate. The 

 true Pimelodi, as to the number of filaments and form of the head, 

 present a greater variety than the Bagri. 



Thus among those which have but a single band of teeth, some 

 have the head helmed, and an osseous plate or distinct buckler be- 

 tween the helmet and spine of the dorsal. (l) 



In others, the buckler is united and forms a single piece with the 

 helmet, which thus extends from the snout to the dorsal. (2) 



In others again the head is oval, and covered with skin only, 

 through which the bones are not perceptible; of this group some 

 have six cirri,(3) and others eight.(4) 



Some, called Cats, have a naked but very broad headj one part of 

 these have six cirri,(5) and another eight. (6) 



We should also distinguish those with a small flat head, very 

 small dorsals and almost imperceptible teeth. (7) 



Then come those Pimelodi, which, besides the band of teeth in 

 the jaw, have plates of them in the palatines; these latter teeth may 

 be either small and crowded, or bent like those of a card, and then 

 the plate on the nape may be either distinct from the helmet,(8) or 

 be united with it. (9) These palatine teeth are sometimes round, or 

 like small paving-stones. (10) 



There are some very singular Pimelodi with teeth, like those of 

 a card, forming a movable group under the skin of the cheek.(l 1) 



Others have an elongated snout,(l2) or one that is even pointed 



(1) Sil. chrias, Bl. XXXV, i, 2;Pimel. maculatus, Lacep., V, p. 103; SiL 

 hemioliopterus, Bl., Schn. 



(2) New species. 



(3) Sil. 4-maculatus, Bl., 368, 2; Fim. namdia, Cuv., Marcgr., 149; Fim, 

 Sebas, Cuv., Seb. Ill, xxix, 5; Pim.pirinamp., Spix, 8. 



(4) Fim. odo-cirrhus, Cuv., Seb. Ill, xxix, 1. 



(5) New species. 



(6) Sil. catus,L.m., Catesb.,II, xxiii. 



(7) New species. 



(8) Fim. kerzbergii, BL, 367;' the Fim. doigt-de-negre, Lacep. 



(9) New species. 



(10) New species. 



(11) Fim. gtmidens, Cuv., a new species. 



(12) The Karasche {Fim. biscutatus), Geoff., Eg., Poiss, XIV, i, 2; Fim. gagata, 

 Buchan., XXXIX, 65? 



