170 GIANT FISHES 



with small scales. The spinous dorsal fin, which is placed 

 above the pelvics, has 5 rays and can be folded back into a 

 groove in the back ; it is widely separated from the soft dorsal, 

 which equals the anal fin in size and is situated more or less 

 above it. The caudal fin is forked or concave on its hinder 

 edge, and is set at the end of a stout peduncle. The pectoral 

 fins are placed rather low down on the sides. A lateral line 

 is present and runs straight from head to tail. There is a 

 large air-bladder. The coloration varies somewhat, but is 

 usually dark green or grey above and chalky-white below : 

 there is sometimes a row of darker cross-bars or black spots 

 on each side. The fins may be yellowish or dusky. 



Fossil remains of these fishes have been found in rocks of 

 the Eocene period. 



The larger species grow to a length of 8 feet or more and a 

 weight of about 100 lb. 



About twenty species are known, but only the following 

 attain to a large size. The European Barracuda, Barracouta or 

 Spet (5. sphyrcena), found in the Mediterranean and eastern 

 Atlantic ; the Great Barracuda, Picuda or Becuna (5. picuda), 

 ranging on the Atlantic coast of tropical America from Florida 

 to Brazil and reaching the Bermudas ; the California Barra- 

 cuda (S. argentea), extending from Puget Sound southwards to 

 Cape San Lucas ; the Indian Barracuda (5. jello) and the 

 Black-finned or Commerson's Barracuda (S. commersoni), both 

 from the seas of India and the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



The Barracudas are active and voracious pike-like fishes, 

 and among the most formidable of the Bony Fishes of the sea. 

 The larger individuals appear to be more or less solitary in 

 their habits, but young and half-grown fish frequently con- 

 gregate in shoals. Their food consists almost entirely of 

 fishes of all kinds, and large Barracudas are said to have the 

 interesting, if somewhat unpleasant habit, when gorged, of 

 herding a shoal of fishes in shallow water and of keeping guard 

 over them until ready for another meal. 



In some parts of the world, and more especially in Florida, 

 large Barracudas are more feared by the natives than sharks, 

 and there is no doubt that at times they may be dangerous 

 to man. Not only are they highly inquisitive and quite 

 fearless, but they are ferocious to a degree. They will not 



