CHAPTKK XXllI 



notes on the pekai fish 

 na:\[es 



Systeviatic: Pi/ffoccntriis nujcr (Schomburgk). 

 EncjlisJt: (';iiniil)al I'^ish, Carib I'isli. 

 British (iiiiana. Colonial: Pcrai. 



Portugese: Piraiilia. 



The great I'aniily ol' Cliaracins cuniposes a large pro- 

 ])()rtion of the fresh-water fislies of South Anieriea and, in 

 l^ritish Guiana alone — according to Kigenniann, more than 

 half. The Characinidae are divided into many subfamilies 

 of varying habits, the members of Avhich range in size from 

 the most minute of the Hemigrammi to the large "pacu" of 

 the rapids and the great "aimara" of the inland creeks. The 

 subfamily Serrasalmo, to which belong the perai, is composed 

 of three genera, Pijgocentrus, Serrasalmo and Pi/gopristis, 

 including, in all, eight known species of the Guianas, though, 

 doubtless, many others still remain to be discovered. Very 

 little appears to be known of them beyond the fact that they 

 exist, are ferocious, and, in the case of the perai, are exceed- 

 ingly dangerous to whatever living beast crosses their path. 



". . . . the piranha is a short, deep-bodied fish, with a 

 blunt face and a heavily undershot or projecting jaw which 

 gapes widely. The razor-edged teeth are wedge-shaped like 

 a shark's, and the jaw muscles possess great power. The 

 rabid, furious snaps drive the teeth through flesh and bone. 

 The head with its short muzzle, staring malignant eyes, and 

 gaping, cruelly armed jaws, is the embodiment of evil fero- 

 city; and the actions oF the fish exactly match its looks." 



Xever found nearer to the coast than twenty miles, 

 where the last defiling taint of salt water merges into the 



