145 



YELLOW-SPOTTED CYCHLA. 



Cychla Jiavo-maculata. 



PLATE YL 



Pintado. — L. Geral, Lucanari. Schomh. Dravnngs, No, 45. 



" This beautiful fish inhabits the Rio Negro and 

 Padauiri, and is preferred to most others for tlie 

 delicacy of its flesh. The scaHng is rather small, 

 elliptical, slightly fringed, and adhesive ; lateral 

 line arched until over the ventral fin, when it bends 

 to the middle of the body, and runs thence to the 

 tail (see Drawing) ; head compressed ; ventral fins 

 placed under the pectoral ; air-bag long, covering 

 the spine the whole length of the cavity of the 

 body ; nostrils single, round, situate near the eye ; 

 eye round, iris black and yellow, and situate over 

 the gape of the mouth ; tongue pointed, fleshy ; 

 lower jaw slightly produced ; teeth fine, thickly 

 set in each jaw; intestines straight. The gill- 

 opening is semilunar, the cover having all the 

 bones scaled ; the roe is moderate-sized and double. 

 It lives but a short time after being taken from 

 the water, takes bait and the artificial fly rudely 

 constructed by the Indians ; it will also bite at a 

 red pepper or a red rag. They are perfect ty- 



K 



