228 MALACOPTERYGII. — SILURID^. 



flowing rivers of both hemispheres, but chiefly in 

 the hotter regions of the globe ; a single species 

 only is European, which is not a native of this 

 country. 



From what little is recorded of the manners of 

 these fishes, they appear to lie habitually con- 

 cealed in the mud of the bottom, with their long 

 cirri floating free. The smaller fishes, attracted 

 by these organs, approach to examine them, and 

 are sucked in by the Sheat-fish, and for the most 

 part swallowed whole. Many of the species are 

 eaten with avidity notwithstanding their hideous 

 aspect, the flesh being white, firm, and of good 

 flavour. 



They may be considered as forming two Sub- 

 families, the Silurina, with the skin naked and 

 slimy; and the Loricariana, in which the head 

 and body are mailed with large bony plates. The 

 latter are chiefly South American fishes. 



Genus Silurus, (Linn.) 



The head in this genus is large, round, flat and 

 naked, the mouth furnished with three pairs of 

 long cirri ; the body is lengthened ; there is one 

 small dorsal fin, unarmed with any spine ; the 

 pectorals and ventrals are small, but the anal is 

 very long ; the caudal is rounded. 



The Sheat-fish or Sly Silure {Silurus glanis, 

 Linn.), the only member of the Family which 

 inhabits Europe, is perhaps the largest of fresh- 

 water fishes. In the large rivers of Austria and 

 Southern Russia, where it attains its greatest de- 

 velopment, it is said to be sometimes taken twelve 

 and even fifteen feet in length, with a mouth suf- 



