12p Dr. Hancock on the Mullets of Guiana, 



chyme : it is flattened at the anterior part, where the gut and 

 several small pyloric coecse are inserted into it. Intestines, 

 in a number of convolutions joined together by a plexus 

 of vessels ; nothing in the stomach and intestines but mud and 

 chyle ; heart small and angular, close to the gills ; liver, gall 

 bladder, and pancreas large ; the gall having a peculiar bit- 

 terness, which is warm and stimulant, and not unpleasant on 

 the tongue. In a queriman of 26 inches the intestine was 8J 

 feet long — nearly four times the length of its body. 



It lives entirely by suction, frequents soft, muddy bottoms 

 near the shore on the coast of Guiana, and escapes by leaping 

 over the nets of the fishermen, as mentioned of the European 

 mullets, to which they have a strong resemblance in their ex- 

 ternal form, as well as habit. At times they are seen in great 

 numbers on the Pomeroon coast*, leaping out of the water 

 to the height of two or three feet, whether in sportive exercise, 

 or to escape some voracious fish, as the shark and byara, 

 is not well known : the latter supposition is most probable, 

 judging from their behaviour to the fishermen. The young 

 of this species are at times found in the trenches, along with 

 the Trench mullet. 



The gall of this fish (as well as that of the shark and gil- 

 bagre) is said to be a useful ophthalmic remedy in amaurosis, 

 &c., as mentioned of the uranoscopus, by some ancient 

 writers ; and to remove specks and nebulae from the cornea, 

 by letting fall a single drop into the eye once a day. 



I have been told by natives of Barbados, that the queriman 

 is very frequently caught around the coast of that island ; but 

 the species of this genus resemble each other so nearly, that 

 we cannot depend on reports of this nature. I had never an 

 opportunity to ascertain the fact ; but, from what we are told 

 of the remarkable transparency of the sea-water, and the sandy 

 bottom around the island, it will probably be found to be a 

 distinct species. — ^On the Guiana coast this fish is only found 

 in the most turbid waters, or where there is abundance of 

 drift mud, so called,. — consisting chiefly of an argillaceous 

 earth which is probably brought down by the rivers, floated 



* I have known them to leap into the boat, and with such violence, dining this 

 turmoil, as almost to knock the rowers overboard, such is the extraordinary elastic 

 power in the tail. In like manner, the first flying-fish I had an opportunity to 

 examine, was one which flew on board the ship, about the latitude of Barbados. , 



