58 



Papers from the Department of Marine Biology. 



dorsal. No. 10 had 18 black spots on the right and 14 on the left side. 

 These were below the lateral line and extended from a point just 

 anterior to the anal back to the caudal peduncle and on this some were 

 found above the lateral line also. 



No. 12 had on the right side about 15 spots; some large, some small; 

 some distinct, some faint. On the left side there were 2 large spots 

 about amidships, and behind these about 6 small indistinct spots. 

 Furthermore, interesting to note, there were on the ventral surface of 

 the body, on the median line, between the anal and caudal fins, quite a 

 number of dark spots. These were not noticed on any other fish. 



Evermann and Marsh (1900) speak of "usually from one to several 

 small, very dark brown spots, sometimes black, scattered irregularly 



on the side." They also say that the young have dark irregularly 

 shaped blotches or bars sometimes disappearing with age. However, 

 from a study of my specimens described above it would seem that this 

 conclusion does not apply to the Tortugas form. Further it is inter- 

 esting to note that No. 2 (2 feet 4 inches in extreme length) had but 4 

 spots on the right and 3 on the left side, some of these being very pale. 

 Then again No. 6 (3 feet 1.5 inches outside measurements) had no 

 spots at all. This may have been S. guachancho, which is described as 

 being devoid of any color markings whatever, lacking "regular bars 

 and scattered spots." In this connection it is of interest to note that 

 Temminck and Schlegel (1850) in writing of Japanese barracudas say 

 that the young of /S. vulgar is have the upper parts covered with brown- 

 ish marblings and that on the lateral line there is often found a range of 

 dark spots, oblong and rather closely crowded. 



The following are descriptions of the markings of four small barra- 

 cudas taken at Tortugas in the season of 1917, which were kindly sent 



