A LEAF-MIMIC KIX(, FISH. 



303 



that resembles a drifting leaf. This movement is due chiefly to 

 the rapid beating of the small transparent soft dorsal and soft 

 anal. These fins are set within the outline of the body, their 

 bases being transverse to the body length. They have the direct 

 forward push of the screws of a ship. Heing hyaline their motion 

 does not attract attention. 



Several other species of fishes in the forest pools have the color 

 of dead leaves. The others were seen before yielding to the 

 poison, while M. mimophyttus, with a much more complete 

 mimicry, was not. 



A technical diagnosis of the species follows. 



FIG. i. Photograph of a specimen 61 mm. over all. 



FIG. 2. Photograph of the skeleton of the head. The premaxillary spine is 

 broken off from the rest of the bone, and the posterior end of the premaxillaiy has 

 slipped upward a little away from its original position. 



