The Squamipinnes 



405 



with blue, is one of the gaudiest inhabitants of the coral 

 reefs of Polynesia. Holacanthus flavissimus, golden with some 

 deep-blue markings, and Holacanthus nicobariensis, blackish with 

 white circles, are found with other species in the same waters. 



The genus Pomacanthus (Pomacanthodes) includes American 

 species only, still larger in size and differing from Holacanthus in 

 having nine to eleven spines only in the dorsal fin. The young 

 of Pomacanthus are blackish, crossed by many curved yellow 

 cross-bands, which disappear entirely with age. Three species 



FIG. 341. Rock Beauty, Holacanthus tricolor (L.). Puerto Rico. 



are known, Pomacanthus arcuatus, the black angel, chirivita 

 or portugais, Pomacanthus paru, the Indian-fish or paru of the 

 West Indies, and Pomacanthus zonipectus, " Mojarra de las 

 Piedras," of the west coast of Mexico. All are good food-fishes, 

 but lacking the brilliant colors of Holacanthus and the fine 

 pattern usual in Ch&todon. 



The Pygaeidae. Between the Chatodontidce and the Acanthuridce 

 we would place the extinct family of Pyg&idaz, of the Eocene. In 

 Pygaus gigas and other species the dorsal spines are strong and 

 numerous; there are 5 to 8 species in the anal fin, the scales 

 are shagreen-like, and the teeth seem coarser than in the Ckazto- 

 dontidcs. The tail is apparently unarmed, and the soft dorsal, as 

 in Chatodon, is much shorter than the spinous. To this family 



