THE COLORATION OF REEF FISHES 567 



phelus morio the same may be inferred for E, striatus and 

 Mycteroperca venenosa. The chub (Kyphosus sectatrix) ap- 

 parently schools by day in definite places, and one should expect 

 to find it full in the morning and fasting in the late afternoon. 

 At the moment, however, the records are too few to serve as a 

 basis for sound judgement in the matter, and are not supple- 

 mented by decisive observations. 



The nocturnal fishes fall into various subclasses according to 

 the stations which they frequent by day. Some are rarely seen. 

 Others congregate about the coral stacks, where all day long 

 they lie idly at some little distance above the bottom; or swim 

 leisurely through the openings between the heads, but in no 

 sense seclude themselves in their recesses. Others, again, con- 

 fine themselves less definitely to the region of the stacks, but, 

 nevertheless, make such places distinct foci of their activity. 



Those whose concealment is so complete that under natural 

 conditions one would scarcely suspect their presence, and assur- 

 edly never appreciate their abundance, are the five red fishes. 

 There are others that are rarely seen in the open. These are the 

 green moray (Lycodontis funebris) and the ribbon-fish (Eques 

 acuminatus). Of the former only one, and of the latter three have 

 been encountered in the daytime; but these may not be signi- 

 ficant observations, for not many of the morays have been taken 

 at any time, and the other has also been obtained but rarely. 

 Six were secured once when blasting at dusk, and one under 

 similar conditions during the day. As collateral evidence tend- 

 ing to justify the exclusion of the two species from the bionomic 

 group indicated, it may be stated, that the spotted moray (L. 

 moringa) is not uncommonly seen with its head protruding from 

 holes in the coral, and that the widow-fish (E. pulcher), though 

 rarely met, seems also to have no aversion to appearing in the 

 open when the light is strong. 



The second subclass of the nocturnal fishes includes the grunts 

 and their allies, Anisotremus and Brachygenys, the two snappers 

 (N. analis and apodus) and the yellow goatfish (U. martinicus). 



The gray snapper (N. griseus) represents the third subclass, 

 and the chub may eventually find its place in this group. In 



