THE HORNED TRUNK-FISH. 



As may be seen by the engraving, it is a curious-looking fish, and easily recognisable 

 by the six tentacular appendages of its mouth, the two that are situated on the upper lip 

 being of very great length. The precise object of these tentacles is not quite clear, 

 though some persons believe them to be used as decoys, like the fin rays of the fishing 

 frog, and to be employed in enticing unwary fish within reach of the mouth. Dr. Giinther 

 has kindly informed me, that he has often seen these fishes at liberty in their native 

 streams, and that they are capable of directing the points of the tentacles towards any 

 object that they seem anxious to examine. It is, therefore, probable, that these curious 

 appendages are employed as organs of touch. It is one of the mud-loving fishes, and has 

 a custom of hiding itself in holes, or nearly burying itself in the soft alluvium of the 

 river's bed. 



The flesh of the Silurus is not held in very high estimation, although its flavour 

 is good, for it is so fat and gelatinous that it is difficult of digestion, and not to be eaten 

 by persons of small assimilative powers. A kind of coarse isinglass, or very fine glue, is 

 made from the swimming-bladder of this fish. The eggs of the Silurus are not very 

 numerous in proportion to the size of the adult fish, and are of a greenish colour. They 

 are much eaten by various fish. 



The rather peculiar shape can be seen by the illustration, so that no verbal description 

 is necessary. The colour is dark green above the lateral line, and of a paler tint below it, 

 and a number of spots are scattered over the body without any apparent arrangement. 

 The abdomen is of a yellowish colour, and the fins are tinted with blue and yellow. The 

 Silurus sometimes reaches a considerable size, specimens of seven feet in length and 

 weighing from seventy to eighty pounds having been captured. 



HORNED TRUNK-FISH. Oslracwn conwthw 



A VERY curious order of fishes now comes before our notice. These creatures are 

 called Pectognathi, because their jaws are coalescent. 



THE remarkable family of the Trunk-fishes, or Sclerodermi, are known by the curious 

 structure of the external surface, which is composed of a series of hard scales forming 

 a continuous bony armour. 



In the genus Ostracion, of which the HORNED TRUNK-FISH, or COFFER-FISH, is a good 

 example, the body is either three or four-sided, and covered with a solid coat of mail 

 formed of six-sided plates or scales, and pierced with holes, through which protrude the 

 mouth, the tail, and the fins. The whole of the interior structure is modified in 

 accordance with this external and inflexible cuirass; and on comparing the general 



