Note 422 — PART I.
Reading edition
The fish, Plate XII. No. 1. in its shape resembles very much the Silurus Rondeletii, like it too having no scales. Its length (from the nose to the tip of the tail) 20 inches, weight 20 ounces; but they are of different sizes. The head and back are black: the lateral line runs quite from the head to the tail, on the middle of the side; below which, to the belly, the colour generally changes to a dark purple. Of the same colour is the under-part of the head. The head is flat, and in length near 5 inches; the body is round, till within a few inches of the tail, where it grows flat. The mouth is not so large in proportion as that of the silurus. It has no tongue; and the structure of the mouth and palate agree exactly with the description of that fish. From the edge of the nostril on each side arises a small cirrus, and from the angles of the mouth two others, that are stronger, and twice as long. On the lower lip are four more, the two external being the longest. The eyes are situated near the corner of the mouth, close upon the inferior edge of the upper jaw. The branchiæ are four on each side; and all of them have a double row of sharp points, like the teeth of a comb. It has two fins near the branchiæ, consisting of seven radii; to the anterior part of which joins a pretty strong prickly bone. About an inch above the anus are two smaller fins. A long fin extends from under the anus to the tail, as another of the same kind does from the neck all along the back: neither of these join with the tail, which is round at the tip, and composed of about 22 feathers.
This fish is found in the river Orontes, and, I believe, also in some stagnant waters near it. The markets of Aleppo are plentifully supplied with it from the month of November till the beginning of March. The flesh is red, like beef, of a rank taste; and though, for want of better, ate much by the people, yet is esteemed unwholsome. The name it usually goes by is simack il aswad, which signifies the black fish. Its proper name however among the natives is siloor.