198 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



skates were represented by :i common species which reaches a length 

 of 2 feet, and the arraya, or stingray, of the coast of Brazil, which 

 enters the Amazon and other rivers. 



Several of the largest species of the true fishes were included in the 

 exhibit, such as the horse mackerel, which reaches a length of 10 feet 

 or more, with a weight of 1,500 pounds; the barracuda of the tropical 

 Atlantic, which reaches a length of 6 feet; and the wolf fishes, found 

 in the deep waters of both the Atlantic and the Pacific. 



The exhibit included many curious and grotesque marine fishes, 

 such as the sea bat, a small species often sold in curiosity shops; four- 

 eyed fishes, so named on account of the dark horizontal line crossing 

 the eyes; the poison toad of the tropical Atlantic, which is much feared 

 by the fishermen, who say that its spines inflict very painful wounds. 

 Besides these are included the well-known flying fish, the large sail- 

 tish, remarkable for the development of the dorsal fin, a portion of 

 which extends above the surface of the water when the fish is swim- 

 ming; the beautiful thread-fish, with its thread-like fins, and many 

 others. 



The exhibit of tropical Atlantic fishes included many of the larger 

 characteristic species found in Key r West and in the West Indies, 

 including some used as food in Cuba. Among these were the lane 

 snapper, the most important food fish of the Havana markets; the dog 

 snapper: the Margate fish, an important food-fish in Key West, Nassau, 

 and Havana; several other species of grunts, among which the com- 

 mon or white grunt is the most abundant food-fish at Key West. The 

 groupers, one of the most characteristic groups of tropical fishes, were 

 represented by numerous species, such as the rock hind, the Nassau 

 grouper, one of the most attractive of its tribe and of large size, reach- 

 ing a weight of 50 pounds; the red grouper, a common species of the 

 Gulf of Mexico; and most remarkable of all, the jewfish, which is 

 perhaps the largest of the tribe; it reaches a weight of 500 pounds. 

 Specimens weighing from 150 to 250 pounds are sold in pieces in the 

 market like halibut. 



Other especially interesting species were the beautiful angel fishes 

 (Plate 20), some of which stray northward as far as the coast of New 

 Jersey, but are characteristic of the tropical Atlantic; and the rose 

 fish, remarkable for its brilliant colors; the red drum (Plate !!•), etc. 



In addition to the marine fishes it was considered especially desira- 

 ble to display the more characteristic fresh-water species of North and 

 South America. The latter series was necessarily confined to species 

 inhabiting the Amazon and its tributaries, as opportunities were not 

 afforded to obtain specimens from the southern rivers. Among the 

 North American forms were such well-known game fishes as the gray- 

 ling, remarkable for its large dorsal tin; the pickerel, etc. The fishes 



