160 TlMEHRI. 



there covered with a few inches of water. As this would be 

 almost our last chance of prolonged hunting, we camped 

 early on the left bank opposite Arrisaro mountain and 

 sent out huntsmen in all directions on both banks. The 

 only result, however, was a few accouries, a fine owl, 

 and a female quata monkey and her young, the latter of 

 which was perfectly hideous in appearance. 



Here was our last chance for lau-lau ; and fortune at 

 last was kind to us, for one was secured, though a 

 comparatively small one, a little over three feet in length. 

 Another and a larger one was hooked, but it broke 

 away at the very edge of the water during its frantic 

 struggles while being drawn out. The lau-lau, like the 

 paruaruima, makes a very loud bellowing noise when 

 taken from the water, and doubtless when full-grown 

 specimens of from ten to twelve feet in length are caught^ 

 the noise must be remarkable. 



The drawing of the fish, as given by SCHOMBURGK,* is 

 not quite representative : a specimen appears deeper from 

 front to back — especially at the dorsal fin — in proportion 

 to its length, than is shewn in the figure, and the second 

 pair of mandibulary barbels are longer, reaching to the 

 insertion of the pe6loral fins; while from the anterior ex- 

 tremity of the dorsal fin, the body slopes slightly and 

 gradually to the extreme rounded edge of the upper j^w, so 

 that the whole space is one slight concavity, and is desti- 

 tute of the anterior swelling which seems represented in 

 the sketch. The head and' the front of the trunk are* 

 therefore, markedly depressed. 



The skin is soft and reticulated, covering the whole 



* Fishes of Guiana, Vol. I., p. 193. 



