On the Silurus and Glanis of the Ancients. 199 



abdominis valde ampliatis ; tibiis brevibus, anticis flexuosis, re- 

 liquis rectis. Long. 3 lin. 



Hah. South Australia ; Tasmania. 



This little species will be easily recognized by the numerous 

 tubercles on the elytra. 



Rh inoncus nigriventris. 

 R. ovatus, subnitidus, supra pedibusque ferrugineus, parce subtiliter 

 pilosus, sternis abdomiueque nitide nigris ; rostro breviusculo, sat 

 valido ; prothorace crebre punetato, basi nigro-mai'ginato ; elytris 

 cordiformibus, striato-puuctatis, interstitiis valde convexis, sutura 

 basi albido-squamosa ; corpora infra modice punetato. Long. 1^ lin. 



Hub. Queensland (Gaynclah). 



Rhinoncus was, with one exception, a purely European 

 genus; there are, however, a number "of European genera 

 with representatives, not yet described, in Australia ; some of 

 them are also found in the Malasian region. This species 

 is veiy distinct, and, with all the others from Gayndah men- 

 tioned above, have been kindly sent to me by Mr. Masters, 

 whose successful explorations I have had so often to mention. 



EnRATUil. 



In vol. ix. p. 139, under Ochrophabe, " scrobes antemedianfe " fchoidd 

 have been " scrobes postmedianse.'' 



XXII. — On the Sihints and Glanis of the Ancient Greeks and 

 Romans. By the Rev. W. HouGHTOX, M.A., F.L.S. 



There appears to be no doubt that the sheatfish [Silurus 

 r//a/r«s, Linn.), which has of late years attracted some attention 

 in tliis country, was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans 

 under the names of silurus [criXovpo^) and glanis {y\avi<;), 

 although some of the writers make a distinction between the 

 names, and the silurus of one autlior does not necessarily 

 represent the silurus of another. "The controversies and con- 

 cessions of perplexed critics," as the late Dr. Badham remarks, 

 "caused by this confusion in the ancient nomenclature is 

 amusing. Poor Scaliger, having first asserted that the glanis 

 and silurus were different fish, and the silurus certainly the 

 sturgeon, nexts doubts, and lastly becomes convinced, that the 

 silurus Avas unknown to Aristotle ; and after breaking his liead 

 to reconcile what was quite irreconcilable, he offers Cardan, at 

 last, to give up the controversy altogether, on one condition — 



