114 MALACOP. ABDOM. SILURID^ FAMILY. 



able that this great family has only one represen- 

 tative in Europe belonging to 



Gen. LXIY. Siluris, and which is 

 (Sp. 123.) S. glanis : The Sly SQuris or Sheat- 

 fish, whose claims to be considered British, rest 

 solely in the statement of Sibbald in his Scotia 

 Illustrata. He puts it at the close of his History 

 of fresh-water fishes, leading to the inference that it 

 may have occured in his day, in some of the Scottish 

 rivers. This supposition, however, may rest only 

 upon mistake ; and it is not likely that so extra- 

 •rdinary a fish could have so long escaped the 

 lynx eye of some of our numerous Naturalists. 

 This notice, therefore, is introduced only to aid 

 in identifying the species, should it again pre- 

 sent itself. It is the largest fresh-water fish of 

 Europe ; is found in the rivers of Germany, Swe- 

 den, Norway, and has been taken in the Baltic, 

 in the salt lake of Haerlem, in Holland, and in 

 Hungary. It is smooth on the surface, and dark 

 coloured ; greenish, spotted with black, above, and 

 yellowish white beneath. The head is large ; and 

 the parts round the mouth are furnished with six 

 barbules ; it has a single soft fin on the back. In 

 length it extends to six feet and more, and weighs, 

 sometimes it is said three hundred weight. It hides 

 itself in the mud awaiting its prey. Its flesh is, 

 to the taste of most, very rich and pleasant, as 

 food. 



