480 The Andes and the Amazons. 



where salting this fish for the market is made a business, 

 are called feitorias — about the only factories on the river. 

 The fish is coarse, and not relished by foreigners. 



Pescada, a scaly, silvery fish, attaining six pounds, has 

 a delicious, white, flaky flesh, resembling fresh Cod-fish; 

 abounds in the Solimoens and Tapajos. Tambaqui, called 

 Gamitana on the Maranon {Myletes, one of the Gharaci- 

 nidoB), is a very fine, large fish, found from the Negro to 

 the Ucayali. It is often a yard long, having a fiat, keeled 

 body, small scales, adipose fin, long anal and dorsal, nar- 

 row mouth, and large, compressed teeth, which are strik- 

 ingly human. Sungaro, in Brazil Tuberiin (a Pimelodus), 

 is considered the largest fish in the river, and is edible, but 

 is seldom taken. Pira-arara, having long barbels, small 

 eyes on top of the head, and small teeth ; Pira-pieua, four 

 feet long ; and Peixe-lenha ("fire-wood fish "), are also spe- 

 cies of Pimelodus in the Amazons of Brazil, 



Tucunare {Cichla temensis) is a superior, edible fish 

 from the Solimoens, about a foot long, one quarter as broad 

 as long, with small scales, three black vertical bands, trun- 

 cated tail, and small teeth. Corvina, or Rumi - challua, is 

 another excellent fish resembling the Perch. Piranha, or 

 Pygo, " Scissor-fish" (one of the Salmonidce), is very good 

 eating, but is dreaded by bathers. It is a broad fish with 

 sharp, projecting teeth. There are three kinds — black, 

 white, and red ; the first is the best, and is two feet long. 

 Acara-uassii {Meso7iauta), from the Solimoens and Mara- 

 non, is eight inches long, black-banded and spiny-finned, 

 and of fine quality. Acari, two kinds, six and twenty 

 inches long, are Loricaria from the Middle and Lower 

 Amazons. Pira-pitinga, or "Painted Fish," is a Silurid 

 as large as the Tambaqui in the Solimoens; and with it 

 occurs the Pira-catinga, or " Fetid Fish," about twenty 

 inches lonar, and a savage biter. 



