M;.KCii 1, 1SG5.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



57 



The Eukopean Siluutjs {Sihinis (jlanis, Bole). 



Silurics finds them equally useful, and re- 

 gards them as highly ornamental. The two 

 longest barbules have their origin, one on 

 each side just above the angle of the mouth, 

 the four others tend downwards from beneath 

 the lower jaw. This will certainly be the 

 largest of our fresh-water fishes, for Cuvier 

 states that it is sometimes upwards of six 

 feet in length, and is said to weigh three 

 hundred French pounds. In the course of 

 four years, if food is plentiful, it will attain 

 the weight of fifty-six pounds. In appear- 

 ance it is anything but prepossessing — the 

 large flattened head, broad capacious mouth, 

 and frog-like eyes, may perhaps earn for it the 

 Dame of frog- fish, which its known partiality 

 for frogs may serve to strengthen. 



Mr. Yarrell says, " The Silurus is repre- 

 sented as sluggish in its habits, and a slow 

 swimmer, taking its prey by lying in wait 

 for it, in a manner somewhat similar to the 

 angler (Lojyliius) ; hiding itself in holes or 

 soft mud, and apparently depending upon the 

 accidental approach of fishes or other animals, 

 of which its long and numerous barbules may 

 be at the same time the source of attraction to 

 the victims, and the means of warning to the 

 devourer. From its formidable size, it can 

 have but few enemies in the fresh water, 

 and from them its dark colour, in addition to 

 its habit of secreting itself either in holes or 

 soft mud, would be a sufiicient security. In 

 spring the male and female may be seen 

 together, about the middle of the day, near 



the banks or edges of the water, but soon 

 return to their usual retreats. The ova 

 when deposited are green ; and the young 

 are excluded between the sixteenth and 

 nineteenth days. The flesh is white, fat, and 

 agreeable to many persons as food, particu- 

 larly the part of the fish near the tail ; but 

 on account of its being luscious, soft, and 

 difficult to digest, it is not recommended to 

 those who have weak stomachs. In thj3 

 northern countries of Europe the flesh is 

 preserved by dryinof, and the fat is used as 

 lard." 



The tSihcrics finds its food in the frogs that 

 pass into the rivers, and the small fish thai 

 abide there, but it is not veiy "dainty" in 

 its tastes, if all accounts be true. The authors 

 of the " Natui-al History of Fishes " state 

 that it is so voracious that " it has been 

 known in several instances to devour children ; 

 and in one instance the body of a woman 

 was found in one of these fishes." To this 

 account we can only add, that either the fish 

 must have been " a mighty large one," or the 

 woman uncommonly small. Old Izaak says, 

 " The mighty luce, or pike, is taken to be the 

 tyrant, as the salmon is the king, of fresh 

 waters," but here is a tyrant before whom the 

 pike would be obliged to succumb. Should 

 the Silurus take kindly to his new home in 

 the bosom of father Thames, and increase, 

 multiply, and replenish the waters, we may 

 well inquire, " ^Vhat would old Izaak Walton 

 sayT' C. 



