Labyrinthici and Holconoti 



375 



species, for which reason almost every species has been prop- 

 erly made the type of a distinct genus. The two "species 

 found in Japan are Ditrema temmincki and Neoditrema ran- 

 sonneti. In the latter species the female is always toothless. 

 Close to Ditrema is the blue surf -fish of California, Embiotoca 

 jacksoni, the first discovered and perhaps the commonest 

 species. Taniotoca later alis is remarkable for its bright colora- 

 tion, greenish, with orange stripes. Hypsurus caryi, still brighter 

 in color, orange, green and black, has the abdominal region 

 very long. Phanerodon furcatus and P. atripes are dull silvery 

 in color, as in Damalichthys argyrosomus, the white surf-fish, 

 which ranges northward to Vancouver Island, and is remark- 

 able for the extraordinary size of its lower pharyngeals. Hol- 

 conotus rhodoterus is a large, rosy species, and Amphistichus 



FIG. 311. Silver Surf-fish (viviparous), Hypocritichthiis analis (Agassiz). 



Monterey. 



argenteus a large species with dull yellowish cross-bands. 

 Rhachochilus toxotes is the largest species in the family and the 

 one most valued as food. It is notable for its thick, droop- 

 ing, ragged lips. Hyperprosopon arcuatus, the wall-eye surf- 

 fish, is brilliantly silvery, with very large eyes. H. agassizi 

 closely resembles it, as does also the dwarf species, Hypocritich- 

 thys analis, to which the Japanese Neoditrema ransonneti is 

 very nearly related. The other species are all small. Abeona 

 minima and A. aurora feed on seaweed. Brachyistius frenatus 

 is the smallest of all, orange-red in color, while its relative, 



