DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0278
AND LOWER EGYPT. 2,51
If the reader cast his eye on the second figure
in the same plate (XXII.), he will perceive a fish
of the same genus as the schall described above, a
silurus. The Egyptians give it the Arabic name
of karmouth. It is one of the most common fish
of the Nile, and at the same time of the worst
for eating. Like the schall, it possesses neither
firmness nor flavour, and is used for food only by
the poor. Its greatest length scarcely exceeds
two feet. The muscles of its tail have great
strength; and perhaps there is no fish more
tenacious of life. I have seen one, which had
been a whole day out of water, and had received
several blows with a hammer upon the head, yet
was full of life and vigour. When cut in two,
both parts of its body, though separate, retained
the power of motion, and its oesophagus con-
tracted, after having been separated half an hour
from all the surrounding parts.
Hasselquitz is the first person who has noticed
and described this species of silurus *. I shall
* Voyages au Levant, trad. part. ii. page 50. Silurus carmut/i,
tiiloticui.—Silurus anguillaris pinna dor salt unica, radii's 70.
citrki 8. Lin.—Aned. Gen. Pise. Append, page 565. Note. It
appears to me, that this fish has been erroneously confounded
in the synonimes with another silurus of the Ganges and Orontes,
described by Gronovius (Zooph. No. 3*2, tab. 8, fig. 3, 4)
under the appellation of clarias. These two fishes have such
obvious differences, that it would be difficult to bring them
together into one species.
satisfy
If the reader cast his eye on the second figure
in the same plate (XXII.), he will perceive a fish
of the same genus as the schall described above, a
silurus. The Egyptians give it the Arabic name
of karmouth. It is one of the most common fish
of the Nile, and at the same time of the worst
for eating. Like the schall, it possesses neither
firmness nor flavour, and is used for food only by
the poor. Its greatest length scarcely exceeds
two feet. The muscles of its tail have great
strength; and perhaps there is no fish more
tenacious of life. I have seen one, which had
been a whole day out of water, and had received
several blows with a hammer upon the head, yet
was full of life and vigour. When cut in two,
both parts of its body, though separate, retained
the power of motion, and its oesophagus con-
tracted, after having been separated half an hour
from all the surrounding parts.
Hasselquitz is the first person who has noticed
and described this species of silurus *. I shall
* Voyages au Levant, trad. part. ii. page 50. Silurus carmut/i,
tiiloticui.—Silurus anguillaris pinna dor salt unica, radii's 70.
citrki 8. Lin.—Aned. Gen. Pise. Append, page 565. Note. It
appears to me, that this fish has been erroneously confounded
in the synonimes with another silurus of the Ganges and Orontes,
described by Gronovius (Zooph. No. 3*2, tab. 8, fig. 3, 4)
under the appellation of clarias. These two fishes have such
obvious differences, that it would be difficult to bring them
together into one species.
satisfy