SA IV-FISH. 



537 



cartilages. The teeth of the saw are firmly implanted in distinct sockets of calcified 

 cartilage, while those in the jaws are minute and blunt. The wide spiracles are 

 situated behind the eyes ; the dorsal fins are without spines, the first being placed 

 above or near to the line of the base of the pelvic pair ; and the large caudal fin 

 may or may not have a distinct lower lobe. The saw consists internally of three, 

 or sometimes five, hollow calcified cartilages, in the form of long tapering tubes, 

 placed side by side, and held together by integument, which is likewise more or 

 less hardened by the deposition of calcareous matter. Several existing species of 

 the genus have been described, which are most abundant in the tropical seas, and 



Japanese saw-fish (J nat. size). 



some of which are distinguished by the shape of the caudal fin, and the number of 

 pairs of teeth in the saw. These fishes not uncommonly grow to 20 feet in 

 length, but Day records one of 24 feet ; in such monsters the saw may be fully 

 6 feet in length, with a basal width of 1 foot. Some of the Indian species ascend 

 rivers to a considerable distance beyond the influence of the tides. Saw-fishes use 

 their weapon of offence by striking sideways through the water, and thus inflict 

 terrific injuries, literally tearing to pieces the soft-parts of such animals as they 

 may strike ; and it is stated that in the Indian estuaries large ones have been 

 known to cut bathers completely in two. After tearing off pieces of flesh, or ripping 

 up the body of their victim with the saw, these fishes seize and swallow the smaller 

 fragments thus detached in their mouths. In the Malayan region the flesh of one 



