GENUS MYRIPRISTIS CUYIER 



This genus is closely related to Holocentrus, from which it 

 differs externally chiefly in the absence of the large spine at the 

 angle of the preopercle. Air-bladder divided into 2 parts by a 

 transverse constriction; pyloric coeca 9. 



Species rather numerous in tropical seas; gay-coloured inhabi- 

 tants of coral reefs and rock pools. Four species in our waters, 

 none of them of much value as food. 



The most important of these is the candil, or frere-jacques 

 (M. jacobus), which is a common fish in the West Indies and 

 south to Brazil. It reaches a foot in length, but is of little food- 

 value. 



Colour, deep crimson, paler below; a blood-red bar across 

 opercle and base of pectoral, becoming black in spirits; fins red, 

 the vertical ones edged with whitish. A brilliantly coloured 

 fish. 



Myripristis occidentalis is a small species, reaching a length 

 of only 6 inches, occurring only on the Pacific Coast of Mexico; 

 said to be common in rock pools about Cape San Lucas. 



Colour, reddish, purple above, silvery below, with many dark 

 points, especially along edges of scales; fins pale, except a darker 

 border along spinous dorsal. 



GENUS HOLOCENTRUS SCOPOLI 

 The Squirrel-fishes 



Body oblong, moderately compressed, ventral outline nearly 

 straight, the back a little elevated, the caudal peduncle very slender; 

 head compressed, narrowed forward ; opercle with a strong spine above, 

 below which the edge is sharply serrate; a strong spine at angle of 

 preopercle; orbital ring, preorbital, preopercle, interopercle, subopercle, 

 occiput, and shoulder-girdle with their edges sharply serrate; mouth 

 small, terminal, the lower jaw slightly included; maxillary broad, 

 striate, with a supplemental bone; eye very large; scales mode- 

 rate, closely imbricated, the free margins strongly spinous; lateral 



265 



