101 



THE LATES OF THE NILE. 



Lates Niloticus — Cuv. et Val. 



PLATE III. 



Perca Niliotica, Linnceus. — Le variole du Nil, Lates 

 Niloticus, Cuv. et Valen. Hist Nat. des Poissons, ii. p. 

 89. Keschr, or Keschere, of the Arabs. 



B. 7; D. 7 or 8— 1.12; A. 3.8 or 9; C. 17; IMS; V. 1.5. 



This fine fish appears to have been known to 

 many of the ancient writers, who agree, generally, 

 in giving it a very large size, so far as three 

 hundred pounds weight ; this, however, is un- 

 known at the present time, and species of a much 

 less size are only seen. It is also universally 

 acknowledged as one of the most delicate and 

 best flavoured fishes of the Nile. The Lates of 

 the Nile approaches Labrax in the absence of 

 spines on the sub and inter-opercles, but it 

 resembles the Perch by the single spine on the 

 opercle, and the teeth on its sub-orbitary 

 bone. The form, however, approaches nearest 

 to the Perch. There are also four or fiv^e strong 

 spines upon the super scapular bone, and five 

 still stronger on the angle of the humerus above 

 the pectoral fin ; but these teeth or spines become 



