Show THE GREAT DAMJ11IAX CATFISH One species alone has managed to take up its abode in Europe This is the wels of the Germans the true sil urus from which the family asa whole derives its name of siluroids It occurs in the Danube and other eastern rivers but has never made its way into the Rhine or any streams to the west of it Except the sturgeon the wels is the biggest and I will venture to add the ugliest of European freshwater fishes Its huge gaping mouth its soft slimy skin its six big barbels and its murderous expression all cbmbine to render it peculiarly hideous Some specimens reach the length of 16 feet and turn the scale at 400 pounds but these figures being fishermans weight may be acepted by the wise cum grano salis I do not guarantee them According Ac-cording to Yarrel a Prussian specimen of silurus had the entire body of a baby in its stomach but a noble Hungarian catfish goes this story one better for it is said to have contained the body of a young woman with ia wedding ring on her finger and a purse full of Jioney hanging at her girdle I can swallow the lady but I decline to accept the wedding ring and the florins Tha Cornhlll Magazine |