Edible Fishes. 481 



111 the Solimoens and its tributaries are also found the 

 following: Curimota {Anodus Amasonum), very highly 

 esteemed, characterized by a short dorsal fin in the middle 

 of the body, small mouth, and no teeth in lower jaw ; pre- 

 fers the rough waters. Surubim, or Pintado, a Platy sto- 

 ma, four feet long, with six barbels, long snout, upper jaw 

 projecting, forked tail, short spiny dorsal, and small adi- 

 pose fin. Pira-uaca, the Platystorna j^lf^niceps of Agas- 

 siz, same size and form as preceding. Pira-mutaba, a Pi- 

 ramutana, twenty inches in length, with long adipose fin ; 

 occurs also in the Negro and Madeira. Mandubi, fifteen 

 inches long. Jaudia {Platystorna spatula), a spotted Silu- 

 rid three feet long ; found also in the Tapajos. Jau, akin 

 to Pira-arara, but shorter, with mottled green back and 

 double spots; occurs also in the Tapajos, Juraqui, and Ma- 

 more, ten inches long ; the latter very excellent. Mamai- 

 aeu, covered with cuirass and spines. Besides, the little 

 Uaracii and Matupiii, and three kinds of Sardinia. 



Pirahiva, a skin-fish with mackerel-tail, said to attain 

 sixty pounds, is found in the Tapajos ; also the Aramassa, 

 a small flat-fish. Candiru is the name of two eel-like fish- 

 es ; and is also applied to three species of Ser^rasalmo, all 

 dreaded by bathers. Parahyba is a large edible fish in 

 the Negro. Dorada, Sabalo, Sapainania, Ciinche, Pana, 

 Punuysiqui, and Uitochallua are Rio Mayo fishes. Dora- 

 da, a kind of Tench, and Sabalo, a Carp, are said to occur 

 also in the Upper Madeira. 



Besides the finny tribe, the natives eat Crabs, of which 

 two kinds, Caranguejo and Camarao, are seen in the Soli- 

 moens; and especially Fresh -water Clams (Anodontas) 

 and Apple-shells {ATnpullaria), which abound from Para 



to Moyobainba. 



2H 



