THE AXLMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 355 



lioth kniwn species nt' diilpliiiis occur in Hawaii. As they are very larg;e 

 fisli oF the ii[)eii sea and are siirfaee s«iininer-s, Ihey are oecasionally seen by 

 pa.sseugers on board sailing' vessels. While the name dolphin rightly belongs 

 to a group of small whales, it has been associated with this fish. In song' and 

 story their beauty of color and grace of motion have received much attention. 



Eeci.s. 



The order Apoilvx. wliich includes the eels and niorays is well rejiresented 

 in Hawaii, several dozen species frecpienting the coral reefs and rocky coasts. 

 Eel-fishing is a favorite sport, as the animals are easily enticed from their 

 hiding places in the rocks, wiien they may be hooked or speared. 



The Hawaiian name puhi is applied to the class as a whole. I'ulii-uha 

 signifies slippery eel, and is applied to the conger-eel. Some of the larger 

 examples attain a length of five or six feet, and are much sought after as food. 



Frcig-Fish and Flying-Fish. 



Two genera of frog-iishes '^ occur, but representatives of only one genus 

 have so far been taken in the shallow water or open sea. They all have the 

 head compressed, and the .skin covered with prickles, the body oblong and 

 much compressed. They are fantastic-looking fishes, often gaily colored, and 

 feed among the seaweeds on the reef, where they creep about like toads. They 

 are also capable of filling their capacious stomachs with air, which enables 

 them to float on the surface of the water. Eight species occur on the reefs, all 

 of which are provided with one or two whip-like lashes that protrude from 

 the upper lip to form a "bait"' over their cavernous mouths. 



Flying-fish^" abound in the open sea in all tropical waters, and Hawaii's 

 waters ai'e in no way an exce])tion. Five well-marked genera include the 

 eight species, all of which are called nialolo by the natives. They are most 

 abundant during the summer months. A common species '" has the upper part 

 of the body dark blue and Ihe fins about two-fhirds the leni;th of the body. 

 They, in eonunoii with tlicii' cousins, usually occui' in shoals, and are a source 

 of interest to the voyager as they leap from the surface of the sea. and sail 

 away, sometimes sustaining a so-called flight for a hundred yards or more. 

 The most recent sport in Hawaii is flying-fish shooting. This is done from a 

 power launch, as the fish skim over the water. The fish are a favorite food of 

 the natives, who prefer to eat them i-aw at their feasts (aha-aina). 



(iOBIES. 



Gobies'-'* have no near relatives among Ihe s|)iny-raye(l Hsiics, and as a 

 family may be easily recognizeil. The ventral fins are inserted very close 

 together; there is no lateral line ainl no bony sta\- to the preopercle. which 

 gives to the gills a peculiar flabby appeai'ance. The species are viMy niunerous 

 in the tropics, there being fourteen licnei'a in Hawaii, usually with hut one or 



^'- AiaennnrUdre. " Exornrtiihr. '■ r(,n'.tn,-nrtiis hiiirlimiti'nis. ">(robiidw. 



