C 447 ] 
This fifh is found in the river Orontes, and I be- 
lieve alfo in fome ftagnant waters near to it. The 
markets of Aleppo are plentifully fupplied with it, 
from the month of November till the beginning of 
March. The fiefh is red like beef, and of a rank 
tafte ; and tho’, for want of better, eat much by the 
people, yet is efteemed unwholfome. The name it 
ufually goes by is Semack al Afivad . , which dignifies 
the Black Fifh. Its proper name however, among 
the natives, is Siloor. 
The fifh Fig. 2, is about four inches long. The 
head is large and flat, the body oblong and com- 
preffed. Its colour is moflly of a dark filver. The 
eyes are large and protuberant. From the lower 
jaw arife four cirri ; the longer meafure one inch, 
the fhorter two thirds of an inch. From the upper 
jaw arife two longer, each meafuring two inches and 
a half, of a firmer texture than either thole of the 
lower jaw, or two other fmall ones placed juft bv 
the nofirils. Between the two long cirri are two 
fmall tubuli. The whole of the cirri are of a white 
colour, excepting the two longed, which are of a 
darkilh colour, like the upper part of the head. 
The fins are eight in number. Two by the gills, 
each furnifhed with a ftrong faw-like bone. Two 
fmall ones near the anus. One of eight radii , fitu- 
ated half-way between the anus and the tail. One 
confiding of feven radii on the back. Another fin, 
of a membranous and flefliy texture, arifcs from the 
middle of the back, and is continued all along to the 
tail. The tail is forked. 
This fifh is found in the river Coic at Aleppo, 
where the fifh in general are extremely fmall, in 
M m m 2 pro 
