38 Knfi/ral History and Anatomical Descripfi'o/r 



which many persons saved themselves on rafts of Agave, 

 and afterwards cut out inscriptions and hieroglyphics, with 

 which the cranitc; of Umana, of In^aramada, and the banks 

 of Cas-:i(]uiare, are seen covered, but of which no one at 

 present has tlie key. This tradition, com-nion among the 

 Indians of Erovato and of Farima, slious great amilogy with 

 tlie mvtliolouvof the antients. People think tlicy read the 

 historvof Deucalion, and Pauw would find the renienibranee 

 of this Hood not uninteresting. 



[To be concluded in our next.] 



IV. Xatnra/ Histonj and Anatomical Desrripfion of a nrif 

 Genni of F'ls/i named Poli/ptera, found in the Ni/c. Bij 

 G. (Jeoi'FUOV*. 



XT is in general among fish with fixed branchioe and a 

 cartilaginous skeleton that the most varied and most cu- 

 rious forms are found : it is there that tlie important modi- 

 fications of some of the orjjans which constitute life necessa- 

 rily determine the major difl'erences in the rest of the or- 

 ganization. But aniono- the abdominal fishes, where these 

 beinus have so great relation to each other, there is one 

 species almost entirely diflercnt from those analagons to it, 

 and, as weinay.s'.y, foreign in the midst of its family. This 

 no doubt is a new object of consideration for natural history, 

 and worthy the attention of physiologists. 



This species, known in Kgvpt under the name of bichir, 

 is indeex.1 so anomahius in regard to abdominal fishes, that 

 it may be said to have no other relation to them than in the 

 respective position of the pectoral and ventral fins ; and that 

 m other respects it is entirely different. 



I. Ph'jsi'tgnomy of the LVuhir. The appearance of this 

 fish might cause it to bj considered as a serpent, and on 

 this account, indeed, it has been distino'uishcd among the 

 Egyptians by the name of bichir or aboiibehir : its head is 

 defended by broad osseous pieces, and its bcdy is clothed 

 with large scales. It is in some measure cased in armour. 

 It is pariiicularly remarkable by the extent of its abdomen, 

 the lenglh of which is eijual to four-sixths of its whole 

 body. 



II. Organs of Motion. — The bichir seems to be deprived 

 of that organ which acts the principal part in natation ; for 

 Us tail is exceedingly short, being equal at most to no more 



" From Annalcs d:t M.i;a,^/> I'ai^i^na! W iHitaire NaturcUc, No. j. 



than 



