132 PORCUPINE ACANTHICUS. 



conceal themselves from prey, or they assist to 

 seek and raise up small insects or aquatic worms 

 which may either serve as a lure for other fishes or 

 be taken as food. 



Mr. Schomburgk remarks, *' I am sorry that I do 

 not possess more materials for the description of 

 this remarkable fish, which was caught during my 

 absence. I had heard of the existence of this spe- 

 cies while sojourning at Fort San Joaquim, and 

 when the spiny ray, which follows herewith, had 

 been given to me, I almost doubted that it could 

 come from a fish ; however, a young specimen was 

 secured afterwards, but, as already observed, during 

 my absence, and the necessary notes were not taken 

 to make its description more perfect. They are 

 said to grow from three to three and a half feet 

 long, and are found in holes, or under the roots of 

 trees which have fallen in the water. They are said 

 to be peculiar to the Rio Branco, and the Indians 

 who inhabit its banks eat its flesh and name it 

 uacari. It dificrs in many respects from Spix's 

 Acanth. histricc." These observations are to a cer- 

 tain extent by D'Orbigny, who, in speaking of a 

 species of his Rhinelepis, says it lives in rivers with 

 a sandy bottom, and is often concealed below stones, 

 leading a quiet and peaceable life. * 



The specimen above alluded to, brought home 



by Mr. Schomburgk, is about thirteen inches in 



length, but the size obtained, as observed, is much 



greater; the first ray of the pectoral fin of the 



* Quoted from Valenciennes. 



