o 



48 CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



horizontally: the first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins 

 varies in almost every species; sometimes it is smooth, 

 and sometimes serrated on one or on hoth sides. The 

 head does not turn upward; and the jaws are ahout 

 equal. The Silurus glanis, already mentioned, together 

 with S. fossilis (Bloch, pi. 370. f. 2.) and S. laticeps. 

 Jig. 84.), are typical examples of this structure. Follow- 

 ing this_, we place the sub-genns Malaptio'u-s of Lacepede, 

 represented hy the electric silure of the Nile, — .a fish 

 which is said to possess all the properties of the torpedo 

 and of Gymnotus electricus, although in an inferior de- 

 gree. This sub-genus is distinguished from aU the rest 

 of the SilurincB, by having the small dorsal fin entirely 

 adipose, and placed close to the end of the tail, adjoin- 

 ing the caudal fin. The head is turned upwards, but 

 the upper jaw is manifestly longer than the under. 

 Two very interesting species* have recently been figured 

 from general Hardwick's collection of Indian drawings: 

 in one of these there appears a series of small spines 

 placed all along the back, in front of the dorsal; but as 

 this is the only apparent departure from the typical 

 structure, we retain it in the present division. The 

 spines in M. Cuvierii are certainly analogous to those on 

 the back of the Acanthonotus of Bloch, but we cannot 

 for a moment entertain the supposition that these two 

 fishes belong even to the same order. 



(284.) The very small size of the ventrals in the 

 sub-genus Malapturus deserves notice, for they are 

 almost obsolete, being nearly one fourth less than the 

 pectoral fins. The last type of form which we imagine 

 to enter within this group is Pusichthys t ; it has, indeed, 

 the body and fins of Callichrus; but the snout is turned 

 upwards; and although the head is unusually broad, the 

 mouth is excessively small, and opens vertically, just as 



* Malapterurus (Ailia) Bengalensis Gray, Silurus {Acanthonotus) Cuvi- 

 eriuGxdiy, Ind. Zool., vol. i. pi. 85. fig. 1,2. The probability is, that Mr. 

 Gray did not, at the moment, recollect, that the name of Acanthonotus 

 had been already used. 



f The Arabians call these fishes Schilbe, but Cuvier, by some oversight, 

 has omitted to give them a classic name : their humped back has sug- 

 gested that of Pusichthys. 



