of n new Gemis of Fish jiamcd Pohjplera. 41 



known, it is still astonishing to meet with it in a fish of 

 the order of the abdominals. 



Vf. Of the other ylidominal Fisccra; and 1st, of tlic Air 

 Bladders. — The genus ot" the csox, like most abdominal 

 tishes, has only one air bladder adhering to the sides, and 

 oecnpying the whole extent and length of the abdominal 

 region. In the hicliir there are two or these air bladders : 

 they are two unequal cvlinders which adhere only to the 

 stomach and the liver. The smaller, eleven lines in extent, 

 accompanies the stomach and terminates in a point : the 

 larger, which is seven inches four lines, occupies the whole 

 length of the abdomen. Towards the upper and lowei- part 

 of the oesophagus is a fissure which opens into these blad- 

 ders. This large aperture is shut, when necessary, by one 

 constrictor muscle. — 2d, The Liver. In the esox it is one 

 large and entire mass ; in the lichir it is formed nearly like 

 the air bladders, being composed of two slender and unequal 

 lobes : the small portion proceeds on the right side of the 

 stomach ; the longer, which is also slenderer, on the left 

 of the intestinal canal. The gall bladder arises from the long 

 portion : it has the form of a lono-necked bottle; it is one 

 inch four lines in length, and four lines in diameter. 3d, The 

 Spleen is a ribbon-like body, of the consistence of the liver, 

 and adheres to the large air bladder. — 4th_, The Kidneys have 

 nearly the same form ; thev are two in number, and lodged 

 on each side of the projection of the vertebral colunm ; in 

 this they are very different from one kidney of a pnlpy coh- 

 sistence, such as that observed in the esox. — 5th, The Ova- 

 ria, which are eleven inches in length, present nothing re- 

 markable ; thcv are attached to the neighbouring organs 

 only by a cellular tissue so loose that they form theiDselvcs 

 into a bail, or become elongated, according to the manner 

 in which the fish is carried. The ecus are not larger thaa 

 a gram of millet. They are of a meadow -green colour, 

 ■while the whole of the ovarium appears of a blackish broun. 



VTI. Habits of the Bichir. — Notwithstanding all the care 

 I employed to obtain information respecting the manners of 

 this fish, I was not able to succeed. It is so rarely found 

 in the Nile, that several fishermen informed me thev had 

 never seen any other individuals than those which I shovved 

 them. The high price which 1 gave for each hickir is a 

 sure proof that all those which appeared in the gene* 

 ral market at Cairo were brouoht tome; and yet 1 pur- 

 chased no more than three or four in the course of a year. 

 It was caught at the time when the waters of the Nile were 

 lowest, and 1 never was able to obiaiu any young indivi- 



duaJs. 



