60 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
is found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans but the species 
appear to be distinct. The Balistide, or trigger fishes, are charac- 
teristic of the reef fauna in both the Atlantic and Pacific, and 
they were not wanting at Makuluva. One specimen appears to 
belong to the genus Balistapus, with three rows of curious spine- 
like seales on each side of the caudal peduncle and peculiar plates 
behind the gill openings. The specimen comes nearest to B. rec- 
tangulus. The anterior part of the head and ventral regions are 
greenish-yellow, posterior part of dorsal region and laterally, dark 
dusky which breaks up into oblique bands passing backward and 
downward toward the ventral region. The trigger, or dorsal fin, 
has a very stout spine with a roughened surface behind which is 
a much shorter and smoother spine to ‘‘set’’ the trigger. The 
scales have peculiar granular surfaces with smooth edges, the 
latter giving a diamond-shaped pattern over the whole scaled 
surface. 
A specimen belonging to the Pomacentride, or ‘‘demoiselles,’’ a 
family characterized by single nostrils, is grayish in color with 
five sharply contrasted black bands extending somewhat obliquely 
downward almost from the mid-dorsal to the ventral surface. Its 
teeth are incisor-like, but each is finely scalloped on its rounded 
edge, and is so delicate as to be translucent. The Blennide are 
rather common on the Makuluva flats where they seem to remain 
between tides in little pools or sometimes in crevices of the rock. 
They have smooth, sealeless bodies and large, protuberant eyes 
giving them a curious pop-eyed appearance, which, together with 
fleshy tags to the nostrils and the eyes, very rough forehead and 
swollen, almost human lips, give them a comical likeness to 
humanity. 
Of course, such a cursory description as is attempted here must 
omit mention of many forms which will be described in the 
special reports of the expedition. The present object is to give 
a general idea of the fauna of the flats and reefs of Makuluva to 
enable the reader with only a general knowledge of zoology to 
construct a mental picture of the sort of things he would see if 
visiting the region. 
Much might be said of the gorgeous colors of the fishes in- 
habiting the larger tide-pools near the outer edge of the flats, but 
it would be impossible to portray in words the beauty and vivid- 
ness of these colors, the crystal clearness of the water, the fan- 
tastic sculpturing of the rocks forming the walls and bottom of 
