GIGANTIC SUDIS. 199 



t!ie small caudal extremity, with its yen- narrow 

 web of rays continued round, appearing, in fact, as 

 if the rayed part of the dorsal and anal fins had 

 been continuous with it, and had formed one large 

 broad extremity formed for powerful sculling. In 

 colour, this fish, on being newly taken, is much more 

 brilliant than in any of the representations which 

 have been given ; the head and dorsal part of the 

 body are of a rich umber brown, becoming paler as 

 it reaches the central lateral line, and thence, shading 

 into a brilliant crimson lake, which occupies also 

 the basal or scaled part of the dorsal and anal fins ; 

 each scale is darker at its base, and has a narrow 

 line of deeper lake near its border. Near the cau- 

 dal extremity, the body and scaled part of the fins 

 are blotched with dark umber-brown, the anal fin 

 showing fourteen streaks of the same colour in the 

 direction of the rays. The pectoral and anal fins 

 are grey, having the rays marked irregularly with 

 dull blue. The membranous part of the dorsal, . 

 anal, and caudal fins are blackish grey, the rays 

 being reddish bro^^^l. Schomburgk's notes are, — 



" This fish is plentiful in the Rupununi, Rios 

 Branco, Negro, and Amazon. In the latter three 

 rivers there are extensive fisheries for supplying the 

 difierent towns, and great quantities are sent to 

 Para, where it is preferred to the fish salted on the 

 North American coast, and commands a higher 

 price. When fresh it is excellent, and the belly 

 nearly all fat. They are taken generally with har- 

 poons fastened on a long pole, which is thrown 



