226 BLACK SAW-BEl^LIED SALMON. 



ones devoured altogether; and in these places it 

 is not safe to bathe, or even to wash clothes in the 

 river, many cases having occurred of fingers and 

 toes having been cut off by them. They vary in 

 colour from lead-colour to nearly black ; the eye is 

 situate near the middle of the head ; scaling rather 

 small, smooth at the edge, oval, and adhesive. La- 

 teral line runs near the middle of the body, bending 

 from the top of the opercle. Head and body de- 

 pressed; ventral fins, under the dorsal, large and 

 strong ; nostrils oval, double, situate near the eye ; 

 tongue fleshy ; lower jaw produced ; teeth triangu- 

 lar, serrated, and very sharp, — six on each side 

 of upper, and seven in the lower jaw ; vent near 

 to the anal fin; gill-cover striated, with smooth 

 edges; gill-rays 4, — are not covered by the gill- 

 lid, but free, and extend from its lower margin 

 towards the throat ; the opening semilunar. They 

 live about half an hour after being taken out of 

 the water ; air-bag is long and double. They are 

 a principal article of food amongst the Indians, 

 and as they are so voracious, they are easily 

 taken by hook and line, which is secured near 

 the hook with a piece of tin to prevent cutting. 

 Their flesh is dry and indifferent, and rather 

 bony. It is, however, a good relish while the In- 

 dian is travelling in the rainy season, when other 

 kinds are not to be obtained. The belly is ser- 

 rated. 



" The pirai, or huma, by which name the fish 

 just described is generally know^n to the aboriginal 



