Chromides and Pharyngognathi 



389 



of the California coast, Halichceres semicinctus, the kelpfish, 

 light olive, the male with a blue shoulder bar, is found in south- 

 ern California. On the west coast of Mexico are numerous 

 species of Thalassoma, Halichceres, Pseudojulis, Xyrichthys 

 and Iniistius, all different- from the corresponding species in 

 the West Indies, and equally different from the much greater 



FIG. 321. Redfish (male), Pimelometopon pulcher (Ayres). San Diego. 



variety found in Hawaii and in Samoa. About the Polynesian 

 and West Indian islands abound a marvelous wealth of forms of 



- 



' 



FIG. 322. Lepidaplois perditio (Quoy & Gaimard). Wakanoura, Japan. 



every shade and pattern of bright colors blue, green, golden, 

 scarlet, crimson, purple as if painted on with lavish hand and 

 often in the most gaudy pattern, although at times laid on 

 with the greatest delicacy. The most brilliant species belong 

 to Thalassoma and Julis, the most delicately colored to Stetho- 



