THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE GROl'P. 359 



The Wrasse-Fishes. 



The Labrid(f oi- wi-asse-fish — a New England name — includes more than 

 twenty genera in wliich ai'c distributed more than fifty Hawaiian species. Of 

 this large family only a few examples can be mentioned. The general foi-m 

 of the various species, though it varies somewhat from one geinis lo aiiolhcr. is 

 sufficiently characteristic throughout the family to render them easily identi- 

 fied as members of the same division. The color patterns, usually of the 

 brightest hues of blue, green, golden, scarlet, crimson and purple, are as i-ich 

 and deep as though laid on with a brush by a most lavish hand. Often, in 

 addition to its vivid color, the pattern is one of the greatest delicacy or the most 

 intricate design. 



INIost of the wrasse-fishes feed upon mollusks and have their teeth adapti'd 

 for crushing shells, but as they frequent the rocky coast, the coral reefs, the 

 kelp beds, and the open sea, their food must necessarily vary considerably. 

 However, in all the genera the teeth in the front jaws are prominent, separate 

 and pointed. 



Perhaps the most brilliant species are among those in the genera Thalas- 

 soma and Julis, ])ut the more delicately-colored species are among the StctJio- 

 jiilis. The a'awa,^-' omaka,-^^ akilolo,^^ opule,"" awela,'^'' hinalea lauwili,^^ 

 lolo and hilu'^'' and poou ^" are among the species to be seen almost daily in 

 the markets, and often in the Aquarium. 



The lantern-fishes and lizard-fishes^- are well represented in the Ha- 

 waiian fauna, the kawelea ^•' and ulae -^-^ being common exam{)les of the 

 latter. Their large mouths and lizard-like shapes render them easy of iden- 

 tification in the markets. The lantern-fishes are for the most part denizens of 

 the deep, and as they live aw^ay from the shores, they are seldom seen except 

 when they come to the surface at night or in times of stormy weather. 



Mullet. 



The mullet is by far the most important and generally esteemed food fish 

 of the islands. There are three genera of the family,*"' each represented by 

 a single species that have been reported from the group, l)nt it is the sj^ecies 

 commonly called the ama-ama,'*^ that is the most abundant. It is this species 

 which in former times received the most attention from the natives in the way 

 of protection and conservation. So much has been done along this line that 

 mullet ponds have been impoi'tant institutions since the days of the early 

 chiefs. In fact, the time of the building of many of the ponds extends far 

 back into the age of fable, the Hawaiians all I'ibiding the consti'iiction of one 

 of the j)onds on Kauai to tlie work of the ineiiehunes — a fabled race of dwai'l's 

 that correspond in many ways with oui' Urownies. 



Many of the oldest mullet ponds are still in use and in an excellent state 

 of repair. As the ponds were originally owned liy the kiui;s and cliiel's, it is 



^^ Leinda plots spp. '■'* Sti-thi>jiili.i sp. '''' Goiiiiihosii.s sp. -"^ A iiinnji.si'-s sp. ■'' Thala.ixoiiKi sp. 



^^ Thnlansitina sp. '■'^Jiili.s sp]). *" Cheilinii.s sp. *^ Mi/clophidce. *- Si/iiodiniitidd'. 



*■' TracliiiiDVpphahis iiii/(iii.s. ■>* tsynodus varius. *^ Muffilidiv. *" Mugil c/phalus. 



