PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 117 



It is also not uncommon in Cuba, numerous specimens being seen in 

 the Havana market. These are, as usual with Cuban fishes, somewhat 

 darker in color than Key West specimens, but are not otherwise different. 

 There is, therefore, no doubt of the identitj' of A. relieana with A. lati- 

 ceps. The account of A. stipes given by Dr. Giinther agrees very well 

 with our si^ecimens, but it is hardly sufficiently detailed to warrant the 

 snbstitution of th3 name stipes for that of laticeps. In one or two slight 

 respects the description of Poey (Memorias, II, 265) is erroneous. Thus 

 the pectorals form rather more than one-sixth the length of the body, 

 even including the caudal fin, and the insertion of the first dorsal is in 

 front of the middle of the body, if this fin be included, and behind it 

 if it be excluded. 



Color in life translucent green, silvery, below with a well-defined 

 silvery lateral band; a series of dots along the side below this; back 

 with dark dots forming streaks along the rows of scales; snout above 

 with black dots; fins pale, nearly plain. A dusky shade at base of 

 caudal. 



Eye, 2^ in head ; snout, 4; interorbital space, 2 J. Head, 3§ in length; 

 depth, 4f. D. V-1,9; A. 1, 11. Scales, 36-G. Insertion of first dorsal 

 rather nearer anal than veutrals. Upper edge of orbit sharp, nearly 

 smooth. Maxillary reaching front of pupil. 



50. Atherina araea Jor. & Gilb. 



Not very common. A small, slender fish, found in schools of the 

 pieceding. 



SPHYRiENIDiE. 



51. Sphyiasna picuda Bloch & Scliueider. Barracuda. 



Very abundant, reaching a length of 4 or 5 feet or more. Considered 

 an excellent food-fish, although regarded with a little suspicion, as it is 

 said to be sometimes poisonous. The poisonous character of this and 

 various other suspected fishes is said to be confined to those taken on 

 the growing reefs, and it is thought to be due to some animal eaten by 

 the fishes. 



In the sheltered places among the wharves at Key West are vast 

 schools oi Atherina.; Stolephorus, and Dussumieria. These swim near the 

 surface, and among them and feeding on them, likewise swimming at 

 the surface, are the species of Tylosurus. Lower, down in the water are 

 the Pilchard {Clupea pensacolw), and among these are the Barracuda, 

 little and big, the most voracious of all the fishes at Key West. They 

 hover midway in the water, motionless, except for the undulations of 

 the pectoral fins, finally darting with great swiftness into some school 

 of smaller fishes. 



The resemblance of the Barracuda in habits to the fresh-water j)ike 

 {Esox) is very great, and both are very destructive to small fish. 



Three specimens from Key West are numbered 35034. 



