bichir (bicher)

[Native name.] A remarkable living ganoid fish, Polypterus bichir, of the family Polypteride and order Cro o pterygii, inhabiting the Nile and other African rivers, attaining a length of 18 inches, and esteemed as food. See Polypterus. In the system of Cuvier, the bichir was placed among the bony fishes, in the vicinity of the herrings. One of 545 the most interesting features in connection with the fish is that, in the young, external gills are present. Two other species, P. senega lens is and P. endlicheri, are known. All live in the deeper pools, and apparently bury themselves in the slime and ooze on the bottom, where they feed on fishes and other aquatic animals. Stand. Nat . Hist ., III. 95. bichlorid, bichloride (bi-klō'rid, -rid or -rid), n. A compound in which two equivalents of chlorine are combined with a base: as, a bichlorid of mercury. bicho-do-mar (bē'chō-do-mär'), n. [Pg., lit. worm of the sea, sea-slug.] de-mer. bichord (bi'kôrd), a. and n. I. a. Having two chords. Same as béche [ II. n. In music, a general name for an instrument having two str strings tuned in unison for each note, as the mandolin and several other instruments of the lute or guitar cla . bichromate (bi-krō'māt), n. [ Bichromate or bichromic battery. See cell, 8. bichromate (bi-krō'māt), v. t.; pret. and pp. bichromated, ppr. bichromating. [ The gelatine ma may be bichromated after it is set by soaking it in a solution of bichromate of pota ium or ammonium. Sci . Amer . (N. S.), LVI. 161. [