presented to the Zoological Society, 245 



The gill membrane is four-rayed ; the under jaw arched ; the lips re- 

 tractile. Teeth none. The intestine about two lengths of the body, 

 contains nothing but mud and very minute black cockles, some of them 

 scarcely visible without a lens ; nothing like a sound or natatory bladder 

 can be perceived. The after fin or second dorsal consists of one strong 

 spine and a web. The first ray of the pectoral is a strong bony spine, 

 or arm, beset with a multitude of minute sharp points ; it is curved up- 

 ^vard and forward at the end, which facilitates the walking of the fish at 

 the bottom of the pool. 



It is asserted by naturalists, that no fishes are known to take any care 

 of their offspring ; both the before-mentioned species of Hassar, how- 

 ever, make a regular nest, in which they lay their eggs in a flattened 

 cluster, and cover them over most carefully. Their care does not end 

 here. They remain by the side of the nest till the spawn is hatched, with 

 as much solicitude as a hen guards her eggs ; both the male and female 

 Hassar, for they are monogamous, steadily watching the spawn, and cou- 

 rageously attacking any assailant. Hence the negroes frequently take 

 them by putting their hands into the water close to the nest ; on agitating 

 which the male Hassar springs furiously at them, and is thus captured. 



The round-head forms its nest of grass ; the flat-head of leaves ; 

 both at certain seasons burrow in the bank ;* they lay their eggs only 

 in wet weather. I have been surprized to observe the sudden appear- 

 ance of numerous nests in a morning after rain occurs, the spot being 

 indicated by a bunch of froth, which appears on the surface of the 

 water, over the nest ; below this are the eggs placed on a bunch of 

 fallen leaves, or grass, if it be the littoral species, which they cut and 



* The flesh of this Hassar is yellow, firm, and very savoury, especially 

 esteemed by the Creoles in their soups, which they prepare with the addition 

 of several vegetable articles, such as the Okra, Cataboo, and Fou-fou, (i. e. 

 Hibiscus esculentus,) Arum, and plantains, boiled and pounded into a sort of 

 plain pudding. The whole is seasoned with pepper, salt, and lime-juice, and 

 forms in reality one of the best dishes of the country, although many Euro- 

 peans, out of a most ignoble pride and affectation, pretend to dislike it, for no 

 other reason, however, than its being a common dish amongst the slaves and 

 lower orders. 



There are Creoles also who affect the same dislike or disgust tp the Fou-fou 

 and Okra soup, and yet swallow it enormously in private. 



