presented to the Zoological Society, 243 



Indians in search of their object. I have ascertained, by trial, that they 

 will Uve many hours out of water, even when exposed to the sun'S: rays. 



Their motion over land is described to be somewhat like that of the 

 two-footed Lizard. They project themselves forward on their bony arms 

 by the elastic spring of the tail exerted sideways. Their progress is nearly 

 as fast as a man will leisurely walk. The strong scuta or bands which en- 

 velope their body must greatly facilitate their march, in the manner of 

 the plates under the belly of serpents, which are raised and depressed by 

 a voluntary power, in some measure performing the office of feet. It is 

 said that the other species, the round-head, has not been kno\Mi to at>- 

 tempt such excursions, although it is capable of living a long time out of 

 its element ; but as I before observed, it buries itself in the mud in the 

 manner of the Yarrows, when the water is drying up. 



The Indians say that these fishes carry water within them for a supply 

 on their journey. There appears to be some truth in this statemest ; for 

 I have observed that the bodies of the Hassars do not get dry like those 

 of other fishes when taken out of the water ; and if the moisture be ab- 

 sorbed, or they are wiped dry with a cloth, they Imve such a power of 

 secretion, that they become instantly moist again. Indeed it is scaiteely 

 possible to dry the surface while the fish is living.* 



aback of the sea coast, they fell in with a drove of these animals, which 

 were on their march over land to a branch of the Pomeroon. They were so 

 numerous that the negroes filled several baskets with those they picked up. 



♦ On inspecting an old Journal, which was kept during a tour to the Pari- 

 ma, in 1810, I find that another species of these mailed fishes inhabits the ra-^ 

 pids of the Essequibo (interior of Guiana) one of which was caught by the In- 

 dians whilst employed in hauling our canoes over the falls of that river, and 

 attracted my attention by its curious structure and vivid colouring ; it is re- 

 marked in the note alluded to, that this fish is not only furnished with the 

 common appendages for swimming, but also with four strong bony supports, 

 one attached to each of the pectoral and belly fins (i. e. constituting the first 

 ray of each) by which the animal creeps on the bottom of the river, and per- 

 haps where there is little or no water also, being, as it seems, partly amphibi- 

 ous ; for although it had received a severe wound on the head, it did not expire 

 till it had been many hours out of the water. It has no proper teeth, but short, 

 flexible^ curved spines (or setoe) on the lips ; one row on the upper, and two 

 on the under lip (the upper jaw short and moveable ?) The pectoral fin has 

 «ix radii, besides the leg, if I may so term it, or ambulatory spine. The 



