402 The Nematognathi, or Catfishes 
properly vouched for. The sheatfish is brown in color, naked, 
sleek, and much like an American Ameiurus save that its tail 
is much longer and more eel-like. Another large catfish, known 
to the ancients, but only recently rediscovered by Agassiz and 
Garman, is Parastlurus artstotelis of the rivers of Greece. In 
China and Japan is the very similar Namazu, or Japanese catfish, 
Parastlurus asotus, often found in ponds and used as _ food. 
Numerous smaller related catfishes, Porcus (Bagrus), Pseudo- 
bagrus, and related genera swarm in the brooks and ponds of the 
Orient. 
In the genus Torpedo (Malapterurus) the dorsal fin is wanting. 
Torpedo electricus, the electric catfish of the Nile, is a species 
of much interest to anatomists. The shock is like that of a 
Leyden jar. The structures concerned are noticed on p. 58. 
Fic. 315.—Electric Catfish, Torpedo electricus (Gmelin). Congo River. 
(After Boulenger.) 
The generic name Torpedo was applied to the electric catfish 
before its use for the electric ray. 
In South America a multitude of genera and species cluster 
around the genus Pimelodus. Some of them have the snout 
very long and spatulate. Most of them possess a very long 
adipose fin. The species are generally small in size and with 
smooth skin like the North American catfishes. Still other 
species in great numbers are grouped around the genus Doras. 
In this group the snout projects, bearing the small mouth at 
its end, and the lateral line is armed behind with spinous shields. 
All but one of the genera belong to the Amazon district, Syno- 
dontis being found in Africa. ° 
Concerning Doras, Dr. Giinther observes: ‘These fishes 
have excited attention by their habit of traveling during the 
dry season from a piece of water about to dry up in quest of a 
pond of greater capacity. These journeys are occasionally 
of such a length that the fish spends whole nights on the way, 
