()QS PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J 755. 



Fig. 11 and 14, pi. 15, seem to be quite new genera; and 12 and 13, though 

 they belong to the same genus with the mystus, described by Gronovius in his 

 Mus. Ichthyologic. p. 34, N° 83, and p. 35, N° 84, yet are species of that 

 fish which has not hitherto been described. 



The fish, fig. 11,* resembles much in shape the Silurus Rondeletii, and has no 

 scales. Its length, from the nose to the tip of the tail, is 20 inches ; weight 20 

 oz. ; but they are of different sizes. The head and back are of a black, colour. 

 The lateral line runs quite from the head to the tail, on the middle of the side ; 

 below which, to the belly, the colour gradually changes into a dark purple ; of 

 the same colour is the under part of the head. The head is flat, and near 5 

 inches in length. The body roundish, till within a few inches of the tail, where 

 it grows flat. The mouth is not so large in proportion as that of the Silurus; it 

 has no tongue, and the structure of the mouth and palate agree exactly with the 

 description of that fish. From the edge of the nostril on each side arises a small 

 cirrus; and from the angles of the mouth 2 others, that are stronger, and twice 

 as long. On the lower lip are 4 more, the 2 external being the longest. The 

 eyes are situated near the corner of the mouth, close on the edge of the upper 

 jaw. The branchiae are 4 on each side, and all of them have a double row of 

 sharp points, like the teeth of a comb. It has 2 fins, situated near the bran- 

 chiae, consisting of 7 radii, to the interior part of which is joined a pretty strong 

 prickly bone : about an inch above the anus are 2 smaller fins. A long fin ex- 

 tends from a little way under the anus to the tail, as another of the same kind 

 does from the neck all along the back : neither of these fins join with the tail, 

 which is round at the tip, and composed of about 22 feathers. It is found in 

 the river Orontes, and in some stagnant waters near it. The markets of Aleppo 

 are plentifully supplied with it, from the month of November till the beginning 

 of March. The flesh is red like beef, and of a rank taste ; and, though for 

 want of better, eaten much by the people, yet is esteemed unwholesome. The 

 name it usually goes by is semack al aswad, which signifies the black fish. Its 

 proper name however among the natives is siloor. 



The fish fig. 12,-|- is about 4 inches long. The head is large and flat, the 

 body oblong and compressedr Its colour is mostly of a dark silver. The eyes 

 are large and protuberant. From the lower jaw arise 4 cirri ; the longer measure 

 one inch, the shorter 2 thirds of an inch. From the upper jaw arise 2 longer, 

 each measuring 2-i- inches, of a firmer texture than either those of the lower jaw, 

 or 2 other small ones placed just by the nostrils. Between the 2 long cirri are 2 

 small tubuli. The whole of the cirri are of a white colour, excepting the 2 

 longest, which are of a darkish colour, like the upper part of the head. The 



• Stiurus anguilkrit. Lion. + Silurus com. Lien. 



