SHEATFISH. 
75 
anticipation of modern discovery; and it is also found in some 
other rivers of Africa, and in Asia. But the question arises 
whether this fish is capable of living for a short time in the 
open sea: and it scarcely amounts to an answer to this, when 
it is said that it has been occasionally found in the Baltic, for 
it is known that the water of that inland sea is much less salt 
than that of the ocean, and in its upper part it is almost 
entirely fresh. 
It is affirmed, however, that the Sheatfish has been taken in 
^■n Irish river; but the example was not seen by a scientific 
naturalist, nor was a figure of it drawn; and therefore it is 
for the assistance of future observers that we extract what Mr. 
Thompson has recorded of the facts of the case. “That this 
species has in a single instance been taken in Ireland I am 
•lisposed to believe, on the following testimony: — On inquiry 
(October, 1840,) of William Blair, who has for many years 
I>een fisherman, etc., at Florence Court, whether he had ever 
nret with any rare fish, he described an extraordinary one, of 
which he could never learn the name, that he took twelve or 
tliirteen years ago in a U-ibutary of the Shannon, near its 
source, and about three miles above Lough Allen. His des- 
cription was so graphic and particular that Lord Enniskillen, 
on hearing it, immediately suggested its applicability to the 
Silurus; and on Yarrell’s figure being shewn to the intelligent 
captor of the specimen, he at once identified it as in all 
respects representing his fish, except in the head and mouth 
not being large enough. Professor Agassiz, who was present, 
cn being appealed to, stated that these parts were certainly 
not represented of sufficient size in the figure. The fish was 
seen struggling in a pool in the river after a flood, and “with 
fhe long worm-like feelers from its mouth;” and its general 
appearance was looked upon as so hideous, that the persons 
who first saw it were afraid to touch it. The specimen was 
at least two feet and a half in length, and eight or nine 
pounds in weight. Although unfortunately lost to science, it 
for two or three years — or until the skeleton fell to pieces — 
adorned a bush near the scene of its death. The species was 
not known as an inhabitant of any of the neighbouring waters 
I’y the persons of the district. The distribution of the Silurus 
fflanis on the Continent of Europe is somewhat anomalous, as 
