There are numerous species, such as groupers of the genera Epinepheliis and Garrupa and jew- 

 fishes (Mydcroperca), some of which can weigh more than 220 pounds. Swimming rouml 

 the coral masses are coastal fishes, the brilHance of their glowing colours adding to the rich 

 shades of the background. In shape they are like our .sea-breams but their flesh is more deli- 

 cate, as, for instance, the snappers or pargos (Liilianiis), porgies (Archosargus, Calamus) 

 with their sheep-like heads, grunts (Ilacmiilon) willi light spots blending into a tiarker back- 

 ground colour, and scarlet catalufas (PriaainUuis) with large, clear-blue eyes. 



About the madrepore coral masses the strange dragon-fish (Pterois volitans) springs jerkily 

 forwards. It is related to the scorpion-Hshes, being an exaggerated form of such fishes. The 

 head-spines and skin-tags are very numerous and the fins are highly developed. The very 

 high first dorsal fin looks as though it is formed of a line of sabre blades, while the enormous 

 pectoral fins have large, fiattened, blue rays that are curved like yataghans. The tail is a splendid 

 fan. The colours of the dragon-fish, which surpass anything that could be imagined by a 

 Chinese artist, are most vivid, with purple, red and white bands; recalling the war tattooing 

 on some chief from Oceania. This animal has a terrifying appearance and is poisonous like 

 the fishes of the related family Synanceidae. These are extremely venomous and the dorsal 

 spines with their poison glands may cause wounds that are sometimes fatal. 



Among the coral polyps, large, brilliantly coloured helianthopsid sea-anemones send out 

 their tentacles, these being crammed with stinging cells and capable of paralysing sizeable fishes. 

 Now these dangerous actinians, which may be 20 to 24 inches in diameter, have a commensal 

 damsel-fish (Amphipriun). The general colour of this fish is garnet-red, the snout and pectoral 

 fins are red and there are startling white bands behind the eyes, at the end of the tail and along 

 the back. The damsel-fishes have no fear of the formidable batteries of stinging cells possessed 

 by the helianthopsids, and they pass to and fro among the tentacles, not even hesitating to 

 enter the gastric cavity of these anemones. It is said that the Amphiprion acts as a bait to 

 lure other fishes towards the anemones, where they are killed on contact and where the accom- 

 plices have a share of the remains. At all events it seems probable that the damsel-fishes are 

 immune from the toxins of their hosts. 



Among the fauna of the coral reefs there are specialised fishes which feed on the madre- 

 pores, whether they browse on the polyps or crush the branches to extract the living substance. 

 Such adaptations are shown in the structure of the mouth, which has become beak-shaped. 

 On the other hand, the dentition is sometimes modified, the teeth being fused into crushing 

 plates. 



The butterfly-fishes (Chaelodun) deserve this name because of their beautiful colours. 

 The body is compressed from side to side and the small beak ends in a pointed snout. One of 

 the commonest species in the Pacific, Chnetudon aciiiniuatiis, has a fine ground-colour of orange 

 or chamois with two oblique jet-black stripes, one behind the head extending down to the 

 pelvic fins, the other set in the middle of the body. The very long first rays of the dorsal fin 

 undulate above the fish and extend well beyond the rear part. In the coral masses of the 

 West Indies the butterfly-fishes give way to angel-fishes. The black angel (Pomacanthus 

 arcuahis) and the blue angel (Ilolacanfhiis ciliaris) swim around the reefs of the Bahamas, 

 both being covered with dark scales edged with clear-white or yellow lines. The Moorish idols 

 of the Pacific (Zanclns corniilns) are round and flattened, with enormous fins, three large black 

 bands standing out against the light-coloured body. All these graceful fishes nestle among 

 the coral heads like humming birds in the flowers of an equatorial forest. 



The oval-shaped trigger-fishes are more massive and rigid because of their sheathing of 

 scales. They swim around the reefs and may even take to the open sea at times. On the back 

 behind the eyes rises a strong pointed spine, which can be fixed in position by a bony locking 

 device. Their colour patterns are very diverse : black with large orange spots; grey and yellow 

 with blue stripes; red with dark lines edged with lemon colours; slate-coloured with a large 

 scarlet tail that is rounded and fan-shaped ; and there are many other shades. During years 

 when the oceanic transgressions are strong, a wandering species, Balistes capriscus, leaves the 

 tropical zone to roam as far as the western coasts of Europe. 



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