ICHTHYOLOGY. 



711 



ployed by L* Cepede in the construction of genera, 

 10 that we are surprised to find them still remaining in 

 company, alter witnessing so many other genera dis- 

 mesnbered. The upecies are esteemed excellent food, 

 and much (ought after. The carp, which stands at the 

 head of fresh water fishes, is well known in this coun- 

 try aj a valuable and useful pond fish, but it is more 

 particularly esteemed on the continent. The breeding 

 and feeding of this fish, is there to many a source of 

 rery considerable profit. The flesh of the Barbel, C. 

 borbut, it white and good, but the spawn is considered 

 by many as hurtful. Bloch, however, is disposed to 

 call the truth of this opinion in question, and states, 

 that be ha* eaten the eggs, with all his family, without 

 suffering any inconvenience. The scales of the C. al- 

 burnus, or bleak, are employed similar to those of the 

 atherine, in the formation of artificial pearls. For this 

 purpose the scales are carefully removed, and frequent- 

 ly rubbed against one another in water. The silvery- 

 looking substance it then introduced, along with a solu- 

 tion of isinglass, into glass balls prepared for the pur- 

 pose. Almost all the species may be kept in ponds, 

 where they increase rapidly in size. They soon be- 

 come acquainted with the person who feeds them, and 

 will readily eat meat from his hand. They likewise, 

 by habit, obey the call of a bell. When in this natu- 

 ralised or domesticated state, their fins sometimes change 

 in form and even structure, as may frequently be ob- 

 served in the gold and silver fishes "of China. 



DIVISION- VI. 



Osseous fishes with a gill-lid, but destitute of a gill, 

 flap. 



ORDER XXI. APODAL. 



GssusCCXIX. STERNOPTVX. 



Body and tail compressed ; under part of the body 

 carinatrd and transparent ; one dorsal fin. 



The S. diapkana, an inhabitant of the West Indies, 

 is the only known species. La Cepede baa changed 

 the trivial name into Hermann, in honour of Professor 

 Hermann of Pans who first described the species. The 

 skin U apparently destitute of scales, and there is no 

 lateral line. There are nine rays in the dorsal fin, of 

 which one is spinous. It is a native of the island of 

 Ji 



lid. 



DIVISION VII. 

 fishes with a gill-flap, but destitute of a gill- 



OEDER XXV. APODAL. 



Gtinus CCXX. STYLEPIIOHUS. 



Eyes pednculated ; snout produced, looking up- 

 wards ; between which and the head there is a flexible 

 leathery duplicature ; mouth terminal ; gills three on 

 each side ; pectoral fins small ; dorsal fin extending from 

 the head to the tail ; caudal fin short, radiated with 

 spines ; body loos;, compressed. 



This genus was instituted by Dr. Shaw for the re- 

 ception of the S. chordatus from the West Indies. .See 

 LM. Trait, vol. i. p. 90. Tab. 6. La Cepede has chang- 

 ed the trivial name imposed upon it by Shaw, and has 

 substituted argenlem in its place. 



OBORB XXVIII. ABDOMINAL. 



CCNCI CCXX. MORMVRUS. 

 uced ; mouth terminal ; jaws with teeth ; 

 fin. 



La Cepede has described nine species of Mormyri, 

 principally from the notes and observations of Geoffroy. 

 They are chiefly inhabitants of the Nile. 



DIVISION VIII. 



Osseous fishes destitute of a gill-lid and gill-flap. 



ORDER XX. APODAL. 



GENUS CCXXI. MUR.BNOPHIS. 



No pectoral fins ^ one gill opening on each side ; body 

 and tail nearly cylindrical; dorsal, caudal, and anal 

 fins united. 



This genus, the gymoihorax of Bloch, contains twelve 

 species. They were included by Linnaeus in the ge- 

 nus Muntna. The first species described La Cepede 

 is the M. helena. This is the Murama of the ancients. 

 It is found in the seas of the temperate and warmer 

 regions of the earth. It lives with equal comfort in fresh 

 water. The Romans constructed ponds for feeding fishes 

 of this kind, and esteemed them as an excellent dish for 

 the table. The memory of one Vedius Pollio is trans. 

 milled lo poslerily by Pliny as execrable, since he was 

 in the practice of feeding his Murasnze with his con- 

 demned slaves. In ponds they become very familiar, and 

 will eat food from the hand. They are cunning, and 

 when they have, swallowed the hook, make the utmost 

 exertions to bite the line. 



GENUS CCXXII. GYMNOMURANA. 



No pectoral fins ; one gill opening on each side ; 

 body and tail nearly cylindrical ; no distinct dorsal or 

 anal fin. 



There are two species described by La Cepede ; the 

 G. doliata and marmorata, from the notes of Cotr.mer- 

 son. In the former, the anus is situated nearer the 

 head than the middle of the fish ; in the latter, it is 

 nearer the tail than the head. 



GENUS CCXXIII. MUR.ENO-BI.ENNA. 



No distinct fins ; body and tail nearly cylindrical ; 

 surface viscous. 



The M. Olivacea, the only species, was found by 

 Coromerson in the Straits of Magellan. Its body is 

 more completely enveloped in mucus than any olher 

 fish. An individual of this species, kept in alcohol 

 for two months, was found nearly reduced to a muci- 

 laginous oily pulp. 



GENTS CCXXIV. SPHAGEBRANCHUS. 



Destitute of fins ; gill-openings two, under the neck; 

 body and tail nearly cylindrical. 



The S. rotlraiui of Bloch, and the only species of 

 the genus, is a native of the East Indies. It has four 

 gills on each side ; the mouth is furnished with teeth; 

 the skin has no visible scales ; the snout terminates in 

 a point ; the upper jaw is longest. 



GENUS CCXXV. UNIBRANCHAPERTURA. 



No pectoral fins ; body and tail serpentine ; one gill, 

 opening under the neck ; dorsal, ana), and caudal fins 

 united. 



This genus, the last in the system of La Cepede, 

 contains five species. It was termed Symbranche by 

 Bloch. The U. marmorata is a native of the fresh wa- 

 ter^ of Surinam. Its flesh is fat, but unpleasant to the 

 taste. 



Such is an outline of the system of ichthyology as 

 given. by La Cepede. In our descriptions of the ge- 

 nera, we have stated the more essential characters only, 

 as we wished to prevent the article from swelling to an 

 inconvenient length. The reader will readily perceive 

 that the number of genera has been greatly increased 



