BAKEACUDA. 499 



Thirteen species are known, of wMch Eh. acukata, M. pancalus 

 and M. armattos are extremely common, the latter attaining 





Fig. 228. — Mastacembelus argus, from Siam. 



to a length of two feet. Outlying species are M. aleppensis 

 from Mesopotamia and Syria, and M. cryptacanthus,M. marcMi, 

 and M. niger, from West Africa. 



Eleventh Division — Acanthopteeygii Mugiliformes. 



Tivo dorsal fins more or less remote from each other ; the 

 anterior either short, like the posterior, or composed of feeble 

 spines. Ventral fins with one spine and five rays, abdominal. 



First Family — SPHYEiENiD^. 



Body elongate, sub-cylindrical, covered with small cycloid 

 scales; lateral line continuous. Cleft of the mouth wide, 

 armed with strong teeth. Eye lateral, of m,oderate size. 

 Vertebrce tvienty-four. 



This family consists of one genus only, Sphyrmna, gene- 

 rally called "Barracudas," large voracious iishes from the 

 tropical and sub-tropical seas, which prefer the vicinity of the 

 coast to the open sea. They attain to a length of eight feet, 

 and a weight of forty pounds ; individuals of this large size are 

 dangerous to bathers. They are generally used as food, but 

 sometimes (especially in the West Indies) their flesh assumes 

 poisonous qualities, from having fed on smaller poisonous 

 iishes. Seventeen species. 



The Barracudas existed in the tertiary epoch, their remains 

 being frequently found at Monte Bolca. Some other fossil 

 genera have been associated with them, but as they are known 

 from jaws and teeth or vertebrae only, their position in the 



