Fi/h. XXXIII. Fol. m No. 48. 



DIFFERENT KINDS OF HARNESS - FISH. 



JN'ature provided different kinds of Fifh with 

 a. bony or fcaled coat of mail to defend them 

 againfl the attacks of their ennemies. Four 

 of thefe armed water - inhabitants are reprefen- 

 ted in the annexed, picture. 



Fig. 1. The Harrefs-pike. 



(Efox of seas). 



This pike is found in the rivers and lakes 

 of the Eaft- and Weft- Indies. It grows to a 

 length of 3 or 4 feet and lives upon other fifh; 

 On account of its well tafted fief h it is fre- 

 quently eaten. Befides it is remarkable for 

 its figure. The two jaws are tapering like a 

 bill and bei et with teeth of uncomon fharpnefs ; 

 and the whole body is covered with a ftrong coat 

 of fcales which fecures it a gain ft its ennemies. 

 The fcales are of three different forts: on the 

 top of the back they are of a heart -like form, 

 on the fides they are fquare, and on the lower 

 parts rhornbick; the fir ft fpokes or rays of the 

 fins are provided with, very ftrong fîings. 



Fig. 2. The Guacari. 



(Loricaria plecostomus). 



This beautiful orange - tawny fifh is met 

 with in the waters of South - America. The 

 upper part of the head, is bony, the lower part 

 broad, loft and wrinkled. The fides of the body 

 are covered with four rows of hard fcutiform 

 fcales, every one of which is armed with a 



fting that terminates in a fharp point. Its lar- 

 ge fins are ornamented with light and dark- 

 brown fpots. Its whole length is about t| 

 foot. 



Fig. 5. The ribbed Harnefs - Fish. 



{Cat aphr actus costatus). 



This fpecies inhabits the waters of the 

 Eaft- Indies and South -America ; on its back 

 are two broad fhields which are provided with 

 ftrong curvated hooks; the forefins are befet 

 with little ftings in the form of a faw, and 

 the flat head which is covered with a bony te- 

 gument, has fix beard - fibres? This fifh is for- 

 midable by its coat of mail ; no other fifh ap- 

 proaches it, and the fifhermen who/érroneously 

 thinkits wounds venomous , are yery cautious 

 in taking it out of the net in which it entangles 

 itself with its hooks. 



Fig. 4. The dotted Harnefs - Fish. 

 {Cat aphr actus punctatus) 



It generally lives in the rivers of Surinam. 

 The whole body is covered with four rows of 

 broad yellow fcales which are indented on 

 their lower end. The fins as well as the nar- 

 row head are thick fown with dark coloured 

 fpots. It meafures about a foot. 



