THE PARROT-FISHES OR WRASSES. 143 



pinkish patch below the origin of the soft portion of the 

 dorsal fin, and some small spots of a similar colour in front 

 of it on or near the lateral line. The dorsal and caudal 

 fins are scarlet, with a fairly broad lighter margin ; the 

 former with a large dark-blue spot between the 6th and 8th 

 or jth and Qth spines ; this being surrounded, except at its 

 base, by a pearly-white band. The anal fin is scarlet towards 

 the front and yellowish behind. The ventral fins are 

 hyaline with the outer rays golden. The pectoral fins are 

 reddish, with a small dark blue spot inside, at the base. 

 In each eye, the iris is a beautiful orange tint. 



The fish known as the Banded Pigfish (Diastodon 

 bellis) is most probably not a distinct species, but merely 

 a colour variety of the Spotted Pigfish ; which, it may be 

 added, is the more common form. 



According to my experience, the Spotted Pigfish grows 

 to a length of about 15 inches. 



The Groper : By this name I particularly refer to 

 what is called the "Blue" Groper; though there appears to 

 me little doubt that the only difference between it and the 

 so-called Red or Brown Groper is that of sex ; the former 

 being normally the male, while the latter is the female.* 



Fig. 55. GROPER (Achoerodus youhlii). 



Supposing that this is the case, the finding of an occasional 

 male dressed in red or of a female dressed in blue, would 

 not upset the idea; as, instances in the Animal Kingdom, 

 in which the female has assumed the livery of the male, or 

 vice versa, are not uncommon. I have found this to be 



* I never yet saw a young " Blue " Groper that was blue, the ground 

 colour hein<,' always a reddish-brown. 



