THE MT\ 243 



it is whit.- The aides an- in many specimens marked \\iili dark cross-bars of the same green 

 color as the kick. When \omii: it N sotted \\itli brown. 



Tin: H\I:I:\. oi i>v-. family >/</, >// -ist of one genus and alx>nt fifteen species. 



They :ui- voracious. pike like fishes. inhabiting nearly all tem|M-rate :in<l tropical seas. A 

 -I--. -:es is f.nin.l <>ii tin- l':i. -ill.' coast, which proves a valuable food fish. iin-a-.ni ing about 

 three feet. 



These fishes resemble strongly the pickerels or pikes. and their habits are certainly much 

 t!i-' same \\ ' .1 fi< i, - ii th' fishermen on h-- Honda I !!' iteOtt ..... M .. n at -per mien 

 of the Barrucouda- the >'. /'/cudo, we think, which al>oiiinls there. The fisherman stands in hi 

 dingy" anl sculls with his back to the sun. just mit-M.- tin- shallow wat-rs <.f tin- r.-.-f. 

 Tin- Harracoiida is curious al>out Madf. and follows it. The sun is in / A 



wi-ll.diii-ct.il aim transfixes the victim. 



WE now arrive at a small family of iish.-s. termed Trichiuridn 1 , or Hair-tailed fishes, in 

 conseqaence of the delicate tilamentan finlets \\ hich deconn.- the tail in some s|>ecies. In all 

 these lishes. the Ixnlj is |..n_- lad BtMUplMnd, :ilni..-' lik-- :. iil.:in ;. :iinl in. I..- 1 l- ri"! :it ail 

 unlike those Hat "snakes" that an- sold in the to\ >liujis. and which dart in all directions 

 when held l>y the tail. 



The tii>t exatnple of ih.-s4- curious creatures is th<- Sr \KIIAI:I>-I--|S||. so called lHM-au.se in 

 shape it bean some res.-inMance to the sheath of a sword. 



On account of its sha|M- and l>iiL r ht silvery whiteness, it is a most striking inhabitant of 

 tin- ocean, and \\h''ii urithini; its way throuuh the translucent water, in elegant undulations. 

 it looks like a limad riband of burnish. il silver winding through tin- waves. This shining 

 hrilliancx is caused by a thin epidermis, which covers the body in place nf scales, and which 

 can I*- easily rubbed oft* by the fingers, to which it adheres, transmitting to them a jKirtioii of 

 the metallic whiteness which it imparts to its |,i.>p.'i owner. 



In spite of the . -xipiisite In-aiMy of this \\-\i. it is captured for the sake of its flesh, which 

 is highly esteemed, and is -.-n.-rallx souirht in the months of April and May when it approaches 

 the coasts. The dra^r-net is the usual instrument of rapture. It seems to I*- a solitary fish, 

 and lives at a considerable depth. The rapid undulations of the Ixxly an- capable of propel- 

 ling the creature through tin- water with ^n-at velocity, but. from all ap|M-arances. it is not. 

 able to make much way airainst a rapid tide, or to overcom.- the dashing waves niised by a 

 tempestuous \vin.l. \l>\\-^ its back runs a Mii.'le dot-sal fin. and the ventral tins aie .,nl\ 

 represented by a pair of scales, a struct un- which has gained for the fish the u'em-rii- name of 

 Lepidopus, or Scale-fin. 



fish that much resembles the preceding species is sometimes, but very rarely 

 seen. This is the SII.VKI:^ II vii: i \n. 7V/-7/////-//.V I, />tiu-iix\ a species that may easily be dis 

 tinguished fn)m the s, -abbard l\-\i by the sha|M-of the tail, which has no fin at its extremity, but 

 tapers into a long and gradually diminishinir point. This species is common in many parts of 

 the Atlantic Ocean, and by the Spanish inhabitants of Cuba it is termed the Sabre-fish. 



Another sjMvies. the SAVALA (7VidU6rv*MtMla), is found in the East Indian seas, and 

 is sufficiently plentiful to form a reroi:ni/ed article of diet, and to be sold in the markets. 

 The Savala bears salting well, and is much used for consumption when the inclemency of th-- 

 weather will not permit fishing-ltoats to put to sea. When fresh, however, it does not suit 

 the taste of Kumpeans, though in Malabar the salted fish is esteemed both by the native 

 inhabitants and the European colonists. 



BEFORE leaving this small but curious family, the Armf (Thyrtite* aiun) deserves a 

 passing notice. 



This elegant and useful fish is found on the coasts of Southern Africa and part of Aus- 

 tralia, and is much valued for the flak.-y whiteness and pl.-astnt flavor of its flesh, which bean 

 some resemblance to that of the cod, but is even superior in delicacy. It feeds mostly upon 



