Barracuda 



before it can be brought to the surface. The fish 

 apparently does not know what fear is, and has in 

 more than one instance jeopardized human life, if 

 not destroyed it. A traveler in crossing a river on 

 horseback was attacked by these fishes, the blood 

 from his horse's legs attracting them in such multi- 

 tudes that they soon stripped the flesh from its legs 

 so that it fell over, maddened with fear and agony, 

 and was soon drowned. The rider leaped from its 

 back and swam to shallow water, surrounded by the 

 throng, and, though protected by his clothing, he 

 was bleeding from many wounds, and in deep water 

 would doubtless soon have been killed by the raven- 

 ous, blood-thirsty fishes. 



When down on the reef, I met a collector who had 

 recently made a trip up the Amazon for Professor 

 Agassiz and, I think, Professor Baird. He had 

 found a number of new fishes, among them a giant 

 which he said compared to the tarpon and others in 

 affording sport. In answer to my request for his 

 experiences with the fish, he narrated to me in sub- 

 stance the following, relating to this giant fish which 

 is at times literally run to its death by otters : 



1 Listen," whispered our Indian guide, dropping 

 the oars and sitting rigid as a statue in an attitude of 

 expectancy. 



For a moment nothing was heard but the ripple of 

 the waters and the occasional cry of some bird from 

 the thick forest that lined the bank. Then came a 



287 



