206 THE AROWANA OF GUIANA. 



continuous fin surrounding the extremity, and only 

 wanting a short space to unite it to the dorsal mem- 

 brane; the dorsal fin also is longer and extends farther 

 forward. The sketch is very slight, but at the same 

 time perfectly defined ; and the colours seem to be 

 equally brilliant with that given by Spix. Our 

 notes remark, " This fish is not uncommon in the 

 Rupununi, although few if any are found in the 

 Essequibo. In the Rio Branco they are also pretty 

 plentiful, though scarce in the Rio Negro, which 

 receives its waters. They delight in the muddy 

 waters, and feed on grass and other vegetable sub- 

 stances. They sw4m near the surface, and are killed 

 by the arrow^ The body is long, much compressed 

 at the belly, and ends in a sharp keel. The tail 

 round, dorsal and anal fins nearly half the length of 

 the body, pectorals very large, ventrals small. It 

 is of a beautiful light green colour, lighter on the 

 belly, and having each scale edged with red, blue, 

 and purple. The lower jaw is produced ; nostrils 

 double; eye yellow, situate near the snout; teeth 

 fine, thickly set in both jaws, and on the palate. 

 The gill-bones are all striated. Scales very large, 

 deciduous, smooth at the edges. The lateral lirie 

 commences near the top of the head, bends towards 

 the middle of the body, and runs thence to the 

 middle of the tail. The ventrals are placed far be- 

 hind the pectoral fins. There are two short cirrhi 

 on the lower jaw. The tongue is pointed, intes- 

 tines straight ; the air-bag single, aud runs the 

 whole length of the cavity of the body. They are 



