COLLECTION OF FISH. 4^7 



and long cirri, and their bony head is not covered 

 by the skin. The European silurus (s. glanis} is 

 the only species found in northern elimates. It 

 is common in the Danube, and is the largest ot 

 our fresh water fish. The want of spiny pro- 

 cesses to the dorsal fin has caused the separation 

 from this genus of the electric silurus of the 

 Nile, under the name of melapterurus. M. Geoi- 

 froy brought it from Egypt ; the Arabs call it 

 raaschy or thunder, and like the torpedo it is 

 capable of giving shocks. The last genera of 

 this family are the aspredos and loricaria, whose 

 body is covered with large and angular plates. 

 We have eight species of them. 



The first family of the fourth order is almost 

 entirely composed of the genus gadus, which 

 comprehends the cod, the whiting, the hake, etc. 

 These fishes live in immense shoals in the European 

 seas. A considerable number of vessels resort lo 

 the North in search of cod-fish, which are salted 

 and dried. This is a great article of commerce, 

 particularly \vith the Dutch. We have twenty- 

 six species of cod. The burbot (gadus lota] is the 

 only species amongst them which inhabits the 

 rivers. The grenadiers (lepidoleprus, Risso,) are 

 nearly allied to the gadi. We have two species, 

 which live in the deep waters of the Mediterra- 

 nean ; they were given us by M. Risso. 



