CORAL JUNGLES OF SEA-COW REEF 



were more than two feet in length, and at least 

 twenty measured a full yard. They were chiefly 

 of one species — a Pseudoscarus, known at any dis- 

 tance by the great, green, parrot-beak teeth. 



They reminded me of the surgeonfish of Gala- 

 pagos, with apparently nothing to fear, and they 

 sauntered, with absolute casualness, back and 

 forth, working, however, steadily ahead. Twice 

 they circled me and I was impressed with the 

 strange details of this strange world. Never be- 

 fore had I realized the chameleon character of the 

 parrotfishes' eyes. Wlien several of the huge 

 bodied creatures had passed me, and when there 

 was presented only an extremely foreshortened 

 rear view, I could see that they were still watching 

 me. It was most uncanny and only in wooden 

 dolls could such a thing be thought possible. The 

 whole eyeball rotated so far back that only a por- 

 tion of the pupil projected from the socket. 



The strength which these fish exerted in wrench- 

 ing off a head of coral was astonishing, and every 

 time, a swirl of lime debris would ascend like a 

 dust cloud. In and out among the fish dashed a 

 school of wrasse, intent on securing the crumbs. 

 But most amusing were the attacks made on even 

 the largest whenever they stopped to feed, by tiny 

 demoiselles who feared nothing that swam when 

 it came to defending their homes. To see a three- 

 inch black and yellow fury driving full force against 

 the side of these blue enameled giants was to see 

 courage at its height. And when the great fish 



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