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 w^as 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 



