SILURID.E. — THE ASPREDIN^. 



357 



searches of Spix, and the masterly descriptions of Agassiz.* 

 Considering the immense number of forms, crowded, 



as this also is, in the old genus Pimelodus, it would be 

 quite premature to judge of the contents of this sub- 

 family merely from the few species that have as yet 

 been placed in it. It is sufficient, however, for our 

 present purpose, that these are too remarkable to be 

 arranged under any other division of the family, more 

 especially as they are the only silures having that large, 

 long, flat muzzle, which characterises the cartilaginous 

 order of fish, the fissirostral type of birds, the aquatic 

 order of quadrupeds, and the saurian reptiles. It is 

 by this form, also, that the great circle of the Siluridce 

 is closed ; for, in the genus Sturisoma, we have the 

 muzzle and elongated form of Sorubium, joined to the 

 mailed body of the Loricanince. 



(290.) Before concluding our survey of the Siluridce, 

 we shall here introduce a few remarks upon two singu- 

 lar types, which will enter among these fishes ; but of 

 whose precise situation we feel doubtful. These are 

 Eremophilus Humb., and Heterobranchus Spix : both 

 these are described in two separate works, valuable, 

 indeed, as specimens of typography t, but of such enor- 



* We find an incidental notice of this group of Spix's in the Regne Ani- 

 mal, under the wrong name of Sorubim, no doubt a misprint for Sorubiwm. 



+ There is not a more serious drawback to the studies of the great ma- 

 jority of naturalists, than the publication of those national works, as they 

 are called, which are intended to commemorate the scientific expeditions 

 fitted out at the expense of the European governments. From the idea (we 

 think a mistaken one) that no expense should be spared to render these 

 publications as magnificent as possible ; they are published at such a price 

 as absolutely to debar all but princely naturalists from deriving any real 

 benefit from them. The grand ouvrage sur VEgypte, and the folios of 

 Humboldt, are well-known instances of this typographical luxury ; not to 

 mention others of our own country, published by subscription, at the cost 

 of between two and three hundred pounds. These publications, indeed, 

 are professedly intended to promote science, but we have long thought 



A A 3 



