AUGUILLA. 229 



with them for a supply on their journey. There 

 appears to be some truth in this statement ; for I 

 have observed that the bodies of the hassars do 

 not get dry like those of other fishes when taken 

 out of the water ; and if the moisture be absorbed, 

 or they are wiped dry with a cloth, they have such 

 a power of secretion, that they become instantly 

 moist again. Indeed it is scarcely possible to dry 

 the surface while the fish is living. * 



" On inspecting an old journal which was kept 

 during a tour to the Parmia, in 1810, I find that 

 another species of these mailed fish inhabit the 

 rapids of the Essequibo (interior of Guiana) one 

 of which was caught by the Indians while employ- 

 ed in hauling our canoes over the falls of that 

 river, and attracted my attention by its curious 

 structure and vivid coloring. It is remarked in 

 the note alluded to, that this fish is not only fur- 

 nished with the common appendages for swim- 

 ming, but also with four strong bony supports, ope 

 attached to each of the pectoral and belly fins, 

 (i. e. constituting the first ray of each) by which 

 the animal creeps on the bottom of the river, and 

 perhaps where there is little or no water also, be- 

 ing, as it seems, partly amphibious ; for although 

 it had received a severe wound on the head, it did 

 not expire till it had been many hours out of the 

 water. It has no proper teeth, but short, flexible, 



