< Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 1.djvu
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CLEVER FISHES.

when their size and apparent capability are taken into consideration, that their feats of destructiveness are little short of the marvellous. Stand north, then, "piräi" of the Carib, "black, saw-bellied salmon" (Serra salmo niger) of Schomburgk; so called, doubtless, from the possession of the peculiar adipose fin, common only to the salmon tribe, though in no other respect does it resemble a salmon, there being positive structural differences between the species. Let us take the portrait of this fish. Doubtless the reader figures to himself a fish of "a lean and hungry look," a very Cassius of a fish, with the lantern-jaws of a pike. But, in fact, the Piräi is somewhat aldermanic and like a bream in figure, with a fighting-looking kind of nose, and a wondrously expressive eye—cold, cruel, and insatiable, and like to that of an old Jew bill-discounter when scrutinizing doubtful paper. There is 70 or 80 per cent, in that eye at the very least, and ruin to widows and orphans unnumbered if they come in its way. If it were a human eye, the owner would be bound sooner or later to figure at Execution Dock. The jaw is square, powerful, and locked into a very large head for the size of the fish; and that is a fat, plump head too, but radiated over with strong bone and gristle. The teeth—ah! they would condemn him anywhere, for here is a fish 16 inches long, with the teeth almost of a shark. Schomburgk speaks thus of its destructive power:

This voracious fish is found plentifully in all the rivers in Guiana, and is dreaded by every other inhabitant or visitant of the river. Their jaws are so strong that they are able to bite off a man's finger or toe. They attack fish of ten times their own weight, and devour all but the bead. They begin with the tail, and the fish, being left without the chief organ of motion, is devoured with ease, several going to participate of the meal. Indeed, there is scarcely any animal which it will not attack, man not excepted. Large alligators which have been wounded on the tail afford a fair chance of satisfying their hunger, and even the toes of this formidable animal are not free from their attacks. The feet of ducks and geese, where they are kept, are almost invariably cut off, and young ones devoured altogether. In these places it is not safe to bathe, or even to wash clothes, many cases having occurred of fingers and toes being cut off by them.

Schomburgk then relates astonishing instances of their voracity, in which the toes of the river Cavia are eaten off: a large sun-fish devoured alive; ducks and geese deprived of their feet, and walking on the stumps. Of course, the lines which are used to capture them have to be armed with metal, to prevent their being cut through. Their voracity is marvellous, and any bait will attract them the instant it is thrown into the water. Precaution is necessary, however, when the fish is lifted-out of the water, or it will inflict serious wounds in its struggles. The fisherman, therefore, has a small bludgeon ready, with which he breaks their skulls as soon as they are caught.

Thus there are fish which shoot their prey, which fish for it, which course it and hunt it, in various ways. There are others which employ

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