INTRODUCTION. 115 



aquatic birds ; and if the survivors should live to 

 increase in size, their safety is endangered for the 

 rest of their life. It is not only man, who for eco- 

 nomical purposes pursues the fishes which inhabit 

 the mighty rivers of Guiana, various are their other 

 enemies, which for the purpose of satisfying their 

 appetites wage war on the finny tribe. They them- 

 selves, the most voracious and insatiable of the 

 animal creation, assist in their mutual destruc- 

 tion. 



The large alligators and caymans are the foremost 

 among the inhabitants of the water which prey 

 upon the fishes. There they lie, like dry logs of 

 wood, at the foot of some cataract, their mouth 

 half open, ready to snatch and swallow what the 

 increased rapidity of the current should carry down 

 the fall. How frequently have we seen them in 

 that situation, while ascending the upper river Ber- 

 bice, which beyond all others seemed to SAvarm 

 with these horrid monsters. I have already ob- 

 served how often they tore the fish from our spring- 

 hooks, and carried fish, hook, and line away ; and 

 we naturally did not owe them good-will for their 

 stealing propensities, which served as an additional 

 proof to what extent their depredations must be 

 carried on. And although abundance of fish, during 

 certain seasons, prevails in the rivers of the interior, 

 the cayman is nevertheless the most covetous of all 

 animals, and envies every other successful fisher. 

 This he gives to understand, particularly by angry 

 growls, if the line mth the captive is drawn in, and 



