508 MALACOPTEIIYGII. 



The Sheat-fish or Sly Silure, (see Chart,) Silurus glanis, (Gr. 

 a kind of shad,) is the only species of Europe, and perhaps the 

 largest of European fresh-water fishes, attaining the length of 

 ten, twelve, or even fifteen feet. 



One species, Silurus electricus, (the Malapterurus electricus, 

 of later writers,) an inhabitant of the Nile and of the rivers of 

 Central Africa, has electric properties similar, or intermediate 

 to those of the Torpedo and Gymnotus, though the organs are 

 of much finer texture. 



Of the American fresh- water forms the most noted are included 

 in the genus Pimelodus, (Gr. Pimele, fat,) distinguished by having 

 an adipose dorsal fin. One species, found in the Mississippi, has 

 been known to weigh one hundred pounds. The genus Noturus, 

 (Gr. back-tail,) includes the Stone Cat-fish. It has its generic 

 name from having the back fin confluent with the tail-fin. 



The Pimelodus cyclopum, (Humboldt ) of South America, in 

 habits the highest regions in which fish are known to live, 

 occurring at Quito, 16,000 feet above the level of the sea. They 

 are found in subterranean lakes, and sometimes are ejected from 

 the craters of the Cotapaxi and Tunguaraga volcanoes. 



In this family are included the BLIND FISHES, Ambtyopsis 

 spel&us, (DeKay,) of the Mammoth Cave, (Kentucky,) in which 

 the eyes are invisible, or appear in a rudimentary state, on the 

 dissection of the fish. It is said &quot;they are acutely sensitive to 

 sounds, as well as to undulations produced by other causes in 

 the water.&quot; (Sillirnan s Journal, second series, Vol. XVII.) 



(17) Cyprinida, (Gr. kuprinos, a carp.) This family includes 

 by far the greater part of fresh-water fishes, though the flesh of 

 not very many is valuable for food. Few of them are found in 

 tropical waters. The Carps have no teeth in the mouth, but 

 they appear in various kinds upon the posterior branchial arch,, 

 (or pharyngeal bone.) 



The species Cyprinus Carpio, (Lat. a carp,) is highly prized 

 for food. It is particularly abundant in Europe, and has been 

 naturalized in waters of the United States, especially in the 

 Hudson River.* 



The GOLD-FISH, Cyprinus auratus, of our parlors, so conspic- 



* These fish were first successfully introduced by H. Robinson, of New- 

 burgh. The spawn is deposited among the grass along the sides of the 

 ponds or rivers which they inhabit. These fishes reach the size of three or 

 four inches the first year, and sometimes become quite large, though the 

 size varies considerably. The Breams are from five to seven inches long; 

 the Chubsuckers from seven to twelve; the Suckers from seven to eighteen. 

 They, together with the Dace, Sheepshead, Killi-fish, Red-fin, &c., are found 

 in the waters of New York. 



