44 



The Squamipinnes 



the jaws at its end. Of this type are Chelmo in India, Forcipiger 

 in Polynesia, and Prognathodes in the West Indies. Heniochus 

 (macrolepidotus] has one dorsal spine greatly elongated. Micro- 

 canthus strigatus, one of the most widely distributed species, is 

 known by its small scales. Megaprotodon (triangularis) has four 

 anal spines instead of three as in the others. 



The species of Holacanthus, known as angel-fishes, are larger 

 in size, and their colors are still more showy, being often scarlet 

 or blue. In this genus the preopercle is armed with a strong 



FIG. 340. Angel-fish or Isabelita, Holacanthus ciliaris (Linnaeus). 

 Family Chcetodontidce. 



Jamaica. 



spine, and there are fourteen or more strong spines in the dorsal. 

 This genus has also its center of distribution in the East Indies, 

 whence two species (septentricnialis and ronin) with concentric 

 stripes of blue range northward to Japan. Holacanthus tibicen, 

 jet-black with one yellow cross-band, is found from the Riu Kiu 

 Islands southward. The angel-fish or isabelita (HolacantJins 

 ciliaris), orange-red, sky-blue, and golden, as though gaudily 

 painted, is the best-known species. The vaqueta de dos colores 

 or rock beauty (Holacanthus bicolor), half jet-black, half golden, 

 is scarcely less remarkable. Both are excellent food-fishes of the 

 West Indies. Holacanthus passer is a showy inhabitant of the 

 west coast of Mexico. Holacanthus diacanthus, orange, barred 



