The birds of the air have, in this region, their representatives in the
water. Among them is the curious and handsome pirarara, or parrot-fish.
It is a heavy, broad-headed creature, with a bony shield over the whole
head. Its general colour is jet-black, its bright yellow sides
deepening into orange here and there. The yellow fat of this fish has a
curious property. The Indians assert that when parrots are fed upon it
they become tinged with yellow, and they often use it to render their
papagaios more variegated.