THE BLOODTHIRSTY PIRANHA 41 



reached Asuncion, had been badly bitten by one. Those 

 that we caught sometimes bit through the hooks, or the 

 double strands of copper wire that served as leaders, and 

 got away. Those that we hauled on deck lived for 

 many minutes. Most predatory fish are long and slim, 

 like the alligator-gar and pickerel. But the piranha 

 is a short, deep-bodied fish, with a blunt face and a 

 heavily under-shot or projecting lower jaw which gapes 

 widely. The razor-edged teeth are wedge-shaped like 

 a shark's, and the jaw muscles possess great power. 

 The rabid, furious snaps drive the teeth through flesh 

 and bone. The head, with its short muzzle, staring 

 malignant eyes, and gaping, cruelly armed jaws, is the 

 embodiment of evil ferocity ; and the actions of the fish 

 exactly match its looks. I never witnessed an exhibition 

 of such impotent, savage fury as was shown by the 

 piranhas as they flapped on deck. When fresh from 

 the water and thrown on the boards they uttered an 

 extraordinary squealing sound. As they flapped about 

 they bit with vicious eagerness at whatever presented 

 itself One of them flapped into a cloth and seized it 

 with a bulldog grip. Another grasped one of his 

 fellows ; another snapped at a piece of wood, and left 

 the teeth-marks deep therein. They are the pests of 

 the waters, and it is necessary to be exceedingly cautious 

 about either swimming or wading where they are found. 

 If cattle are driven into, or of their own accord enter, 

 the water, they are commonly not molested ; but if by 

 chance some unusually big or ferocious specimen of 

 these fearsome fishes does bite an animal — taking off 

 part of an ear, or perhaps of a teat from the udder 

 of a cow — the blood brings up every member of the 

 ravenous throng which is anywhere near, and unless the 

 attacked animal can immediately make its escape from 



