96 IN THE GUIANA POREST. 



These generally have sucking mouths, with which 

 they cling to fallen trees and boulders, or even 

 suck up the mud from the river bottom. We 

 have seen them graze upon the diatoms which 

 form a brown crust on the glass of the aquarium, 

 and we may therefore presume that their staff 

 of life is that lowly class where animal and plant 

 converge. The strong pectoral fins of some, in- 

 cluding Hoplosternum littorale, can be used to 

 draw their bodies at a crawling pace over land 

 at night, when the Indian sometimes comes 

 across a swarm and rejoices at his easy catch. 

 This is the fish which takes care of its young, 

 and is ready to rush at anything which is brought 

 near the nest. At such times the Indian boy 

 catches him with the fingers as he rushes at the 

 disturber of his little ones. 



The delicacy of feeling in the Indian is well 

 shown when he hunts for turtle's eggs in the 

 sand. He walks carefully along, his feet only 

 being used, for the eggs are well covered and 

 perhaps ten inches below the level surface. 

 Presently there is a slight difference in the feel 

 of the sand, and he at once begins to excavate, 

 with no risk of failure. 



With so many great fishes it must naturally 

 follow that the small species are far more 



