333 On the Eremapkilus and Astroblepus. 



magna?, margine membranaceo. Oculi verticales, minuti. 

 Operculum simplex, convexum, nudum. Membrana bran- 

 chiostega radiis 4, ossiculo anterioii subserrato. Pinna pec- 

 toralis radiis 10. Pinna analis radiis 7- Pinna caudalis 

 Integra radiis 1 2 ; radiis duobus exterioribus (ut omnium 

 pinnarum) extrorsum serratis. Longitude 14 pollicaris. 



I have given this fish the specific name Grixalvii* to 

 perpetuate the memory of a respectable philosopher, Don 

 Mariano Grixalva, who has disseminated at Popayan a taste 

 for the physical sciences, which he himself culiivated with 

 success. 



The pescado negro, so much eaten at Popayan, is found 

 but in that part of the river Cauca which is most contiguous 

 to the city. The physical cause of this phaenomenon is suf- 

 ficiently striking. From the volcano of Purase descends a 

 rivulet impregnated with sulphuric acid, that the inhabitants 

 call Rio Finagre (V^incgar River) ; it is known by the beau- 

 tiful cascade which it forms at the foot of the volcano. From 

 the point where the waters of Vinegar River unite with those 

 of Cauca until four leagues lower down the latter is without 

 fish, although in the upper part they are plentiful enough. 

 The small quantities of acid that might escape our chemical 

 analysis are often sufficiently great to injure the organiza- 

 tion of fishes. 



• Mutisii and Grixalvii are doubtless very scientific names. Linnasus, to 

 gratify his puerile vanitv, introduced the custom of giving arbitrary unmean- 

 ing names of men to plants: Werner embraced the same unphtlosophical 

 system of pitiable ambition in baptizing minerals (some wits have asserted, 

 indeed, that such is his attachment to water, that he actually performed the 

 ceremony of sprinkling certain stones, giving them at the same time the fa- 

 vourite name of some of his foilow-ers) : and M.Humboldt now transfers 

 men's names to the very opposite abodes of fire and water, in his volcanic 

 fish ! All the labour;, of these m.en have done much less to disseminate a taste 

 for the natural sciences, than the introduction of such an absurd practice has 

 effected in obstructing the advancement of real knowledge and true philoso- 

 phy. Posterity, so far from venerating such names, will execrate the being, 

 who, to conceal his real ignorance by the assumption of universal knowledge, 

 could thus deliberately bury true science and much accurate knowledge under 

 the ruins of a Babylonish jargon ! Peace to the manes of Lavoisier : although 

 he himself made no real discoveries, yet the philosophical use which he made 

 of those of the English and other philosophers will not speedily be forgotten 

 bv succeeding generations. — Trar.Uator. 



LX. Me^ 



