708 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



tUsifica- 

 tion of 



Saury. 



The annature of the species of this genus resembles 

 a coat O f m ni\ > go hard are the scales, and so closely 

 attached to the body. The L. gavialof La Cepede is the 

 Estx o.ticu.t of Linmrus. It is a native of the lakes 

 and rivers of Europe, Asia, and America, but in the 

 former country it is rare. The flesh is firm, white, and 

 well flavoured, and much sought after. 



GENUS CXLIII. POLYI'TERUS. 



Gill-flap of one ray ; two blow holes ; dorsal fins nu- 

 merous. 



The P. bichir, the only known species, exhibits many 

 singular peculiarities of structure. It is found in the Nile, 

 and was described for the first time by Geoffroy, in the 

 Bulletin des Sciences, No. 61. The body is nearly cylin- 

 drical, long, and serpentiniform; in the anal fin are fifteen 

 rays ; the tail is rounded. It is known to the Egyp- 

 tians by the name of bicfiir, and is considered as a very 

 rare animal. It is supposed in general to inhabit the 

 depths of the Nile, remaining among the soft mud, 

 which it is thought to quit only at some particular sea- 

 sons, and is sometimes taken in the fishermen's nets at 

 the time of the decrease of the river. It is said to be 

 one of the best of the Nilotic fishes, having a white or 

 savoury flesh ; and as it is hardly possible to open the 

 skin witH a knife, the fish is first boiled, and the skin 

 afterwards drawn off whole. 



GENUS CXCIV. SCOUBERESOX. Saury. 



Jaws long ; dorsal fin immediately above the anal 

 fin ; between the caudal fin and the dorsal and anal 

 fins a number of spurious fins, as in the mackrel. 



This genus, instituted by La Cepede, contains only 

 one species, with whose history he seems to be very im- 

 perfectly acquainted. It is the Saury pike of the Bri- 

 tish Zoology. 



GENUS CXCV. FISTULARIA. 



Jaws long, tubular; mouth terminal; one dorsal 

 fin. 



The F. petimba of La Cepede is the only known spe- 

 cies. It is the F. tabacaria of Linnaeus. It was first de- 

 scribed by Marcgrave in his history- of the Brazils, un- 

 der the name of Petimbuaba. The tail is perhaps of 

 the most singular construction of any species in the sys- 

 tem. It is deeply forked, and from the middle of the 

 i'urcature springs a very long and thickish bristle or 

 process of a substance resembling that of whalebone, 

 and gradually tapering to a fine point. A variety has 

 been observed by Dr Bloch, in which this part was 

 double, and the snout serrated on each side. This spe- 

 cies inhabits the equatorial seas, lives chiefly on the 

 smaller fishes, and its flesh is poor, and unpleasant to 

 the taste. 



GENCS CXCVI. AULOSTOMUS. 



Jaws long, tubular ; mouth terminal ; longitudinal 

 row of spines instead of the first dorsal. fin. 



The Fistularia chinensis of Gmelin is the only known 

 species. It is a native of the equatorial sea. It feeds 

 on small worms, and the spawn of fishes. Its flesh is 

 said to be dry and insipid. M. Gazola supposes, that 

 he has observed the remains of this fish in the strata of 

 Mount Bolca. 



GENUS CXCVII. SOLENOSTOMUS. 



Jaws long and tubular ; mouth terminal ; two dor- 

 sal fins. 



The Fistularia paradoxa of Pallas, is the only known 

 species. It is a native of Amboyna, and in its general 

 form appears to bear a close resemblance to the Syngna- 

 thi, or Pipe-fish. 



GENUS CXCVJIJ. ARKKTIKA, Argentine. 



Oas&iiica. 

 tion of 

 Fishes. 



Fewer than thirty rays to the gill membrane ; more 

 than nine rays in each ventral fin ; one dorsal fin ; co- 

 lour silvery. 



La Cepede describes four species. The first of these, Argentine. 

 A. sphyraena, or Pearly argentine, is found in the Me- 

 cliterranean Sea, and in the Atlantic Ocean. The skin 

 of the air bag of this little fish is covered with a sil- 

 very powder, or rather shining silvery scales. These 

 are carefully collected and introduced into small glo- 

 bules of glass, to the inside of which they are fastened 

 with gum. These beads are termed artificial pearls, 

 and are used as articles of dress. The A. glossodonta 

 of Gmelin, changed by La Cepede into A. bonuk, was 

 first described by Forskael as a native of the Red Sea, 

 where he likewise found the A. machnata. The A. 

 Carolina, so named from the country in which it has . 

 been found, is about the size of a small herring, and 

 lives in the fresh waters. 



GENUS CXCIX. ATHERINA. Atherine. 



Gill flap and ventral fins, with fewer than eight rays ; Ather.::.. 

 no teeth in the palate ; two dorsal fins ; a longitudinal 

 silvery band on each side. 



There are four species of Atherine described by na- 

 turalists. The A. hepsetus, or European Atherine, is 

 by far the most common, being found in the North Sea, 

 the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. In general ap- 

 pearance, it much resembles the smelt. Its flesh i< 

 considered as uncommonly delicious. About the Greek 

 Islands, according to Sonini, where it is seen in vast 

 shoals, it is easily taken by trailing in the water a 

 horse's tail, or a piece of black cloth fastened to the end- 

 of a pole ; the fishes following all its motions, and suf- 

 fering themselves to be drawn into some deep cavity 

 formed by the rocks, are readily secured by means of 

 a net. 



GENUS CC. HVDRAIIGIRA. 



Gill flap and ventral fins with fewer than eight rays ;. 

 no teeth in the palate ; one dorsal fin ; lateral silvery 

 band. 



Bosc discovered in Carolina the only known species 

 of the genus, named H. swampiita, because it is found 

 in the swamps or lagunes. The head is depressed, the 

 lips are extensile, the under jaw longest. This species 

 inhabits the fresh water marshes, and as these are some- 

 times nearly dried up, it is compelled to shift its haunts 

 to deeper water, which it accomplishes by a series of 

 leaps. The flesh is unsavoury, and little sought after, 

 but it furnishes a grateful repast to the aquatic birds 

 which frequent its haunts. 



GENUS CCI. STOLEPHORUS. 



Fewer than nine rays in the ventral fins and gill flap ; 

 one dorsal fin ; no teeth ; lateral silvery band. 



La Cepede describes two species, viz. S. Japonicus and 

 S. Commersonii. The former of these was first descri- 

 bed by Houttuyn. It has five rays in the dorsal fin, 

 while the latter species has fifteen. 



GENUS CCII. MUOIL. Mullet. 



Lower jaw carinate within ; scales striated ; two fins 

 on the back. 



There are seven species belonging to this genus. The 

 most common is the M. cephalus, or common mullet, a 

 fish well known to the ancients. It is to be found in 

 almost all seas. This ascends rivers, like the sal- 

 mon, to spawn ; and at that time they congregate in 

 vast shoals. At this time the fishermen endeavour to 

 surround them with the net. They are said to grow 

 very fat in rivers and lakes with a sandy bottom. 

 They are esteemed excellent food when fresh, and are 

 likewise often used salted. The spawn salted and dried 

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