FOSSILE SILURE. 21 



transverse lines : head mailed by bony plates, and 

 terminating in a point behind : dorsal fin mode- 

 rately broad, extending from the beginning of the 

 back to the tail, and without anj^ strong or serrated 

 ray ; adipose hn wanting : first ray of the pectoral 

 fins strong and serrated : ventral fins placed at the 

 middle of the abdomen : anal fin commencing at a 

 small distance beyond them, and, like the dorsal, 

 extending nearly to the tail, which is short and 

 rounded : beards eight in number : the lowest pair 

 of those on the upper lip reaching almost as far as 

 the pectoral fins. Native of America. 



FOSSILE SILIJRE. 



Silurus Fossilis. S, fuscO'nigricans , suhius canus^ copife sciitato, 



pinna anali ad caudam continnata. 

 Blackish-brown Silure^ grey beneath, witli shielded head, and 



anal fin continued to the tail. 

 Silurus fossilis. S. pinna dorsi hrexi, ani longa, caudce rofvnda. 



Block, t. 370. f. 2. 



Length eight inches : body marked by trans- 

 verse linear streaks as in the preceding species : 

 head covered by bony shields, and pointed behind : 

 beards eight in number, and of moderate length : 

 dorsal fin small, and situated towards the beginning 

 of the back : adipose fin wanting : pectoral fins 

 small, with the first ray moderately strong: anal 

 broad and continued from the vent to the beginning 

 of the tail, which is small and rounded. Native ot 

 the East Indies, inhabiting lakes, where it is some- 

 times dug out of the mud at the bottom, in the man- 

 ner of the Cobitis fossilis. 



