NILOTIC POLYNEME. 151 



This species is a native of the Indian and Ameri- 

 can seas, and is found about the coasts of several of 

 the Southern Islands : it arrives at a very large 

 size, measuring upwards of four feet in length. It 

 is considered as an excellent fish for the table, and 

 is in much esteem among the inhabitants of the 

 Malabar coast : it is dressed in various ways, and 

 is sometimes dried and salted for sale. Dr. Bloch 

 informs us on the authority of a correspondent on 

 whom he could rely, that this fish is commonly 

 known in India by the title of Royal Fish, on ac- 

 count of its excellency, and laments that Broussonet 

 (who seems to have named it from its want of parti- 

 cular splendor) should have given it the title of P. 

 plebeius. 



NILOTIC POLYNEME. 



Polynemus Niloticus. P. argenteus, digit is utrmque quinquc 



mediocribits, naso subrulente. 

 Silvery Polyneme, with five moderately long thoracic filaments 



on each side, and reddish snout. 

 Binni. Bruce's Travels. Appendix. 



THIS, according to Mr. Bruce, who describes and 

 figures it in the Appendix to his travels, is a large 

 species, and may vie, for the elegance both of its 

 form and taste, with any fish inhabiting the rivers 

 running either into the Mediterranean or the 

 Ocean. The specimen from which Mr. Brace's 

 figure was taken weighed thirty-two pounds, but is 

 said often to arrive at the weight of seventy pounds 



