202 BRITISH MARINE AJSlD FRESHWATER FISHES. 



not unlike the Burbolt or Motella in shape, but has as many 

 as six barbels developed from the region of the mouth, 

 two of which are of extraordinary length. Adult Siluri 

 measure no less than five or six feet in length, with a 

 weight of over 100 Ibs, Fine casts of such a full-grown 

 specimen transmitted to Mr. Buckland from Berlin, by Lord 

 Odo Russell, are exhibited in the Museum of Economic 

 Pisciculture. Young living Siluri have been successfully 

 imported into this country by the above-named nobleman, 

 and likewise by Sir Stephen Lakeman, while at the time of 

 going to press, May 1883, two or three small examples are 

 on view in the Exhibition Aquarium. From North 

 America, where the family of the Siluridae is extensively 

 represented, a near ally of the Sheet-fish, the American 

 Cat-fish (Amiurus cattus), has been obtained by the writer. 

 One from among several examples so imported in the year 

 1875, and presented by him to the Zoological Society, is 

 still living in the Fish-house in their Gardens in the Regent's 

 Park. A continental variety of the Carp rivalling the 

 ordinary Gold-fish in the brilliancy of its colouration, but 

 having a shorter dorsal fin, and in contour more nearly re- 

 sembling a Roach or Chub, is the so-called Golden-Orfe 

 (Cyprinus or/us) ; this variety, which was first successfully 

 acclimatised in this country by the Duke of Bedford, is 

 represented by several fine examples in the Exhibition 

 Aquarium. Another well marked continental variety of the 

 Carp family is the so-called Mirror Carp or Spiegel Carp 

 (Cyprinus specularis), remarkable for having one or more 

 lines of very large scales developed along the sides and 

 back, the remaining surface of the skin being perfectly soft 

 and naked. Sometimes these series of scales are altogether 

 absent, when the fish are distinguished by the title of 

 Leather Carp. Living specimens of the Mirror Carp are 

 on view in the Buckland Museum. The European Loach 

 or Thunder-fish (Cobitis fossalis) is a third continental 

 species that has been occasionally imported to England. 



As curiosities for exhibition in aquaria several small 

 species of Indian freshwater fishes have been brought over 



