SHEAT-FISHES. 229 



ficiently capacious to gorge a child of six years 

 old. It is found in the rivers of Africa and Asia, 

 as well as those of Europe. The body is thick 

 and long, but the abdomen is short ; the tail, (by 

 which is meant, not the caudal Jin, but the part 

 of the body behind the vent,) long and muscular ; 

 the head broad and depressed. The upper parts 

 are of a deep green hue, becoming paler on the 

 sides, and merging into yellow on the belly ; the 



SHEAT-FISH. 



whole obscurely mottled. The fins are partly 

 blue, and partly yellow. 



The flesh of this species is greatly in demand 

 on account of its good qualities ; it is sent to the 

 markets of Paris from the rivers of Gei'many. It 

 is described as white, fat, and agreeable to the 

 taste, but luscious, soft, and difficult of digestion 

 to weak stomachs. The flesh is so greasy that it 

 is said to be used as a substitute for lard. 



