this kingdom J and it's flefh is extremely admired. 
It fometimes weighs upwards of three pounds. 
The head is large; and that part of the body next 
to it is very thicl<:. The nofc is divided into two 
broad plates, each terminated with three fpincs; 
and on the inner angle of each eye there is a ftrong 
fpine. The covers of the gills are armed Vv'ith 
one very fharp and ftrong fpine; andexaflly over 
the pedoral fin there is another fpine, very large 
and fharp-pointed. The eyes are large ; the lower 
jaw is much fliorter than the upper, and both are 
fet with very minute teeth. The firft dorfal fin 
Gonfifts of nine very ftrong fiiarp fpines; and the 
fecond, which begins exaclly behind the firft, is 
compofed of eighteen foft rays. The peftoral 
fins, which are long, have twelve branched rays; 
the ventral have fix very ftrong and thick rays; 
the anal have eighteen, the firft ray of which is 
fpiny; and the tail is fmall, and forked. The 
back, on each fide of the dorfal fin, is befet with 
ftrong and very large fpines, pointing towards the 
tail like the teeth of a faw ; the fcales are fmall, 
hard, and rough ; and the lateral line is bent a little 
at it's origin, but proceeds from thence in aftraight 
direftion to the tail. 
PIFERIVORA AVIS. An appellation given 
by fome ornithologifts to the toucan, or Brazilian 
inagpie, from it's feeding on pepper. 
PIPRA. In the Linnsean fyftem of nature, a 
genus of the order of pafieres. The charafters 
are : that the bill is fliorter than the head, tri-angu- 
lar at the bafe, entire, and incurvated at the apex; 
and that the feet are formed for walking. Lin- 
nsus enumerates thirteen fpecies. 
PiPRA is alfo an appellation ufed by Ariftotle 
and other ancient writers to exprefs the picus va- 
rius major, the great fpotted woodpecker or wit- 
wall. 
PIQUE. A name given by the Spaniards to 
an infe£t of the magnitude of a flea ; and called 
by the Indians tung. It is common in the Eaft, 
and Weft Indies; where it eats it's way into the 
jflefti under the human nails. 
PIQUITINGA. A fmall American river- 
fifn, about two inches long. The mouth appears 
fm.all, but is capable of a great expanfion for it's 
iize; the eyes are large and black, with filvery 
irides; and it has fix fins, exclufive of the tail, 
which is bifid. The head is of a filvery white 
colour; the back is olivaceous; the belly and fides 
are covered with filvery fcales ; the fins are wholly 
white; and the lateral lines are broad, bright, and 
fnining. 
PIRA-ACA. An appellation by which Marc- 
grave exprefles the little horned fifn of the Weft 
Indies; called by Clufius and others, the miono- 
ceros pifcis, or unicorn fifn. 
PIRA-ACANGATA. A Brazilian fifti, re- 
fembling the common perch in ftiape and fize. 
The mouth is fmall; the tail is bifid ; and there is 
one long dorfal fin, fupported by rigid and prickly 
fpines, which it can deprefs at pleafure, and fold 
up in a fulcus made for it in the back. The 
fcales are of a filvery white colour; and the flefti 
is wholefome, and agreeable to the palate. 
PIRA-BEBE. An appellation given by fome 
ichthyologifts to the milvus, orkite-fifli. 
PIRA-^COABA. An American fifti of the 
truttaceous kind, much efteemed for the delicacy 
of it's flavour, and which grows to the length of 
one foot. The nofe is pointed; the mouth is 
large, but deftitute of teeth i the upper jaw over- 
VOL. II. 
hangs the lower^ the form of a cartilaginous pi^d- 
minencc; the eyes are very large; and the tail is 
bifid. Under each of the gill-fins there is a 
beard, compofed of fix white filaments ; and the 
body is entirely covered v/ith filvery fjales. 
PIRA-JURUMENBECA. A Brazilian fifli 
defcribed by Marcgrave; called alfo the bocca 
molle. It feems attached to the muddy bottom 
of the American feas; where it grows to a vaft 
fize, being fometimes ten or eleven feet long, and 
two feet and a half in circumference. It has one 
long dorfal fin, the anterior part of which is thin 
and pellucid; and on the back there is a fulcus, 
into which this fin may be laid at pleafure. The 
fcales are of a filvery colour and brightnefs; and 
the flefli is extremely well tafted. 
PIRA-PIXANGA. A fifli of the turdus or 
wrafl^e kindj caught in the Brazilian feas, and 
called by fom.e the gatvifch. It's ufual length is 
from four to five inches: the mouth is large, and 
furniflied with very fmall and fliarp teeth; the 
head is fmall; but the eyes are large and pro- 
minent, the pupil being of a fine turquoife co- 
lour, and the irides yellow and red in various 
fhades. The coverings of the gills terminate in 
a triangular figure, with a fnort fpine or prickle; 
the fcales are fmall, and very evenly arranged ; 
and the tail is rounded. The whole body, head, 
tail, and fins, are of a pale yellow colour, varie- 
gated with beautiful fanguine fpots; and the fins 
are alfo fpotted in a fimilar manner, and fringed 
with red. 
This fifti is caught among rocks, about the 
fliorcs ; and it's flefii is reckoned very delicate. 
PIRANHA. An appellation given by the 
Americans to the fifli more ufually denominated 
piraya. 
PIRAQUIBA, OR IPERAQU IBA. A Bra- 
zilian appellation for the remora, or fucking-fifli 
of ichthyologifts. 
PIRATIA-PUA. An American fifli, which 
grows to a very confiderable fize. While young, 
it's flefli is efteemed a peculiar delicacy; but,, 
when full grown, it becomes coarfe, rank, and 
ftrong. It has fix fins befides the tail, which is 
compofed of one very large fin of a fquare fliape. 
The body is entirely of a duflcy orange colour, 
but more obfcurely fo on the back than on other 
parts; and the fides are variegated with grey 
fpots, difperfed in fuch a manner, that they repre- 
fent a kind of net-work. 
PIRATIAPIA. A Brazilian fifli, approach-- 
ing to the nature of the turdus or wrafl^e. It's 
body, which is oblong, and very thick, fometimes 
weighs upwards of fifty pounds j and it's flefli is 
greatly efteemed. 
PIRAUMBU. A Brazilian fifli defcribed by 
Marcgrave, called by the Portuguefe chayqua- 
rona. It's figure refembles that of the carp; it's 
ufual length is from fix to feven inches; and it's 
greateft breadth is about three inches. It fre- 
quents rocky coafts ; and is much valued for the 
delicacy of it's flefli. 
PIRAYA. An American frefli-water fifli, of 
which there are two varieties; the one growing to 
the length of a foot, and very broad in propor- 
tion, with one dorfal fin; the other nearly about 
the fame fize, but having two dorfal fins. The 
former variety is attached to the muddy bottoms 
of rivers; the latter frequents fandy places, 
Their flefli is reckoned wholefome. 
PIRIT, A Philippine appellation for a pecu- 
3 C liar 
