7 
Gars swim with an undulating motion of the body and are ex¬ 
ceedingly active. When startled they move with astonishing speed and may 
leap from the water several times or may skip over the surface in gigantic 
leaps like a ricochetting flat stone, or may rise out of the water until 
only the tail or posterior part of the body is left in it, just as a modern 
speed boat travels, shooting forward with incredible swiftness and all but 
flying. It sanetimes happens on such occasions that a whizzing gar strikes 
a person with its hard bill which penetrates like an arrow, inflicting 
dangerous wounds, horribly lacerating the abdomen, or causing death, A 
snapping gar may also inflict very severe wounds with its large needlelike 
teeth, (Herre). 
Analysis of Genera 
a^, Strongylur inae, Gill rakers absent or vestigeal; enlarged 
teeth of both jaws strong spaced canines, 
b*. Lower pharyngeal elongate, narrow, dentigerous plate scarcely 
expanded posteriorly; second and third upper pharyngeals 
dentigerous, fourth usually distinct and dentigerous, 
c^. Body well compressed, 
d^-. Beak comparatively stout, moderate. —Strongylura, 
d^. Beak very elongate, slender.——— —Rhaphiobelone, 
b^. Lower pharyngeal small, narrow, pointed or rounded at both 
ends; only 1 pair of dentigerous upper pharyngeals, the 
third; fresh waters of India and Bast Indies. — -Jenentodon. 
a^, Beloninae. Gill rakers present; jaws comparatively slender; 
upper enlarged teeth moderate, lower small and close set; 
lower pharyngeal triangular, second and third upper denti¬ 
gerous, fourth usua 1 ly distinct and dentigerous —Belone, 
