Fauna : Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish 



which were the ancestors of the amphibians and reptiles, and 

 thus links in the evolution of iMan. 



Of all the fresh-water fish which have been collected by 

 Dr. Biittilcofer, Mr. F. J. Whicker, and others in the 

 Liberian rivers, about eight or nine are thought to be peculiar 

 to the country. Of these four are Silurids (cat-fishes). These, 

 of course, are fresh-water fish with naked bodies and a number 

 of tentacles growing from the 

 lips. Some of the cat-fish of 

 Liberia — those of the genus 

 Clarias — grow to a considerable 

 size, especially where they in- 

 habit isolated pools or meres. 

 Some very large cat-fish are 

 kept as fetish or totem objects 

 by the natives of Boporo (or 

 were before the former town 

 was destroyed in civil wars), 

 and it was reported both by 

 Dr. Blyden and by Winwood 

 Reade that dead slaves or 

 criminals used to be thrown into 

 the pools where the tame cat-fish lived in order that the fish 

 might be nourished on human flesh. 



The natives eat the pappy soft flesh of the cat-fish of 

 whatever species, but prefer the electric cat-fish as an article of 

 diet.' This is a small fish, seldom more than about twelve inches 

 long. It is known scientifically as Malopta urus electricus, and 

 is generally common throughout Tropical Africa, but especially 



313. ELECTRIC CAT-FISH 



I 



' Buttikofer asserts tliat this last (Malopierttrus) is delicious. The present 

 writer cannot agree, as the flesh tastes too much lilce fish which has been kept 

 too long on ice, and has lost all firmness. 



825 



