490" VOLCANIC FISH. 



like the European volcanoes, isolated mountain -peaks, 

 those of the Andean chain are connected one with an- 

 other in a long continuous series ; so that not only do 

 the rains collect in the crateral basins, but distant reser- 

 voirs also pour their contents into them through numer- 

 ous subterranean channels. 



Through these channels arrive various shoals of fish, to 

 increase and multiply in the deep crateral lake. And 



VOLCANIC FISH. 



when, after a greater or less number of years, the vol- 

 cano once more breaks out into activity, the bed of the 

 crater is necessarily upheaved, and its waters are ejected 

 with terrific violence, along with their finny inhabi- 

 tants. 



It has been observed that the fish thus ejected are 

 identical in kind with those found in the streams in the 

 neighbourhood of the volcano. The South Americans call 

 them Prennadillas ; they belong to the malacopterous 

 family of Siluridce. 



