224 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



at the end. It is a rarer fish than its congeners, and is mostly confined to the south- 

 ern Atlantic coast, rarely extending northward to New York. 



The genus Epinephelus is one containing numerous species in the American 

 seas and elsewhere ; they are chiefly confined to the tropical and subtropical waters. 

 The species agree in having the interorbital space narrow, the eyes subcentral, the scales 

 of the lateral line simple, and the anal fin short, liaving only eight or nine rays. A 

 few wanderers sometimes extend northwards and southwards considerably beyond 

 their ordinary range. Such is the case with a couple of the American species. 



Epinei->helus morio, the red grouper, is brownish, marbled with ash, but reddish 

 below ; the soft parts of the dorsal and anal fins are margined with blue. It is a com- 

 mon fish in the south, and has long been a favorite market fish, being sent from Flo- 

 rida to New York and elsewhere ; but occasionally, though very rarely, it wanders 

 into the vicinity of New York itself. It is abundant in the Gulf of Mexico as well 

 as along the Florida coast, and in those regions is found throughout the year. It is a 

 voracious fish, and preys to a large extent upon crustaceans and fishes. Its move- 

 ments, according to Mr. Stearns, are rather slow, and, when hooked, it is hauled up 

 more like a dead weight than like a live fish. " When taken from the water, the 

 grouper is remarkably tenacious of life, and will live several hours, even though ex- 

 posed to considerable heat ; this is one reason why the Key West fleet prefer 

 groupers for transportation to Cuba, since tiiey are obliged to go a long way to mar- 

 ket, and through wai-m water, and no other fish of the kind would bear crowding and 

 chafing in the wells of the smacks." 



Although the red grouper is indeed a large fish compared to most, often weighing 

 forty pounds, it is almost a pigmy compared with a related fish of this family, the 

 jew-fish, guasa, or Warsaw {Proniicroj)s itaira). This fish is yellowish or oliva- 

 ceous, sprinkled with numerous brown sjiots. It is the largest of the American Ser- 

 ranoid fishes, and hideed there are not much more than half a dozen true fishes that 

 will compare with it in size. It has been said to reach the weight of seven hun- 

 dred pounds, although this is at least very exceptional, but it frequently attains a 

 weight of four hundred to five hundred pounds. Perhajjs the most common popular 

 name is jew-fish, but, besides the other names mentioned, it is sometimes called black 

 grouper. It is ajiparently a common fish, and lives chiefly on the same spots as do 

 snappers and common groupers. Its voracity is in proportion to its size, and when 

 put in the well with other fish does great damage. The fishermen, therefore, generally 

 sew up the mouth before placing it with others. 



Another species of gigantic size, known also by the same name, jew-fish (^Stereo- 

 lepis gigas), inhabits the coast of southern and Lower California. It also reaches a 

 weight of five hun<h-ed pounds, and it is chiefly found in moderately deep waters, 

 where it is quite abundant, especially about the islands of the coast. It is often taken 

 by swallowing a white-fish (the CaulolatUus ptrincejis) when the latter is on the hook. 

 " Its flesh is of excellent quality, and, when small enough to be available, always 

 bring a very high price." 



There is a small group of fishes confined to the tropical American waters, which is 

 noteworthy on account of the combination of characters exhibited by them. In form 

 and external appearance they closely resemble some of the Serranida, but the dorsal 

 fin has only two or three spines, and the anal is entirely destitute of them. These 

 characters compel us to distinguish the group as a family under the name Rhtpticid.e. 

 The scales are smooth and covered with mucus, so as to give a very unctions feel to- 



