292 SHELL-FISH. 
The pico, which is a barnacle, grows to a very large size ; 
at Concepcion, however, it is still larger, being six or seven 
inches in length. It has, when properly cooked, very much the 
flavour of a crab, and by the inhabitants of this Archipelago is 
considered preferable to any other shell-fish. 
Before concluding this imperfect description of the shell-fish 
of Childe, the piure claims some consideration, if it be only for 
its peculiar and disagreeable appearance. It was considered by 
Molina as a genus allied to Ascidia (Mol. i. 214), none of the 
varieties of which are inviting in their look, as an edible sub- 
stance, but the piure is still less so. It is thus described by 
Molina: “ The piure, scarcely deserving the name of a living 
animal, is as remarkable for its figure, as for the manner in 
which it is lodged. The body is about the size and shape of a 
small pear, an inch in diameter; or it may be described as a 
small, conical, fleshy bag, of a red colour, filled with saline 
liquor, and provided with two trunks or processes in the 
upper part, one of which is the mouth, similar to that of the 
Tetias ; and between these processes are seen two small, black, 
and shining points, which are supposed to be the eyes. I could 
distinguish no other organs, nor any viscera in the fleshy sub- 
stance of which it is composed, which is smooth without and 
spongy within. They are extremely sensitive, and when touched, 
spout water out of both apertures. These small animals are 
shut up in a firm, but glutinous case, of various shapes ; one 
case often contains eight or ten distinct bodies, separated from 
each other by cells, formed of a strong membraneous substance. 
They are attached to rocks or stones, under water, excepting 
when left uncovered by a low tide. The natives eat them boiled, 
or roasted in their shells. They also dry them for exportation 
to the province of Cusco, where their flavour is much esteemed, 
and considered equal to that of the lobster.” 
At Childe, the piure is said to be a remedy for barrenness ; 
and to such an extent has this idea prevailed, that a Chilote 
woman, eating this fish, literally says, if asked what she is 
doing, that “she is making children.” One would not, how- 
ever, suppose, from the number of children which are seen 
