THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE (iKOFP. 365 



sentatives of all such well-know u forms as the i)ilot-(is!ics. amlMi'-fishes, the run- 

 ners, mackerel-scads, big-eyed scads and eavallas. 



The Parrot-Fish Family. 



The parrot-fish, 1'^ of which the islands can boast of a large assortment, 

 resemble the wrasse-fishes''' in color, form and scales, l)nt differ in that lhe\- 

 have the teeth more or less fused together which gives to the monlli a heavy 

 beak-like appearance suggestive of the bill of a parrot. They are all liei-l)ivorons 

 fishes, some of them attaininu' a vei"y larui^ side. They are abundant alxuit 

 the coral reefs where they always add a touch of vivid color to the woiidecful 

 picture to be seen through an observation hood or a glass-bottomed boat. The 

 flesh is soft and white and of a rather pasty nature. It is a favorite fish 

 with the Plawaiians, who eat it raw at their feasts. l)ut it is seldom cooked by 

 Europeans. 



The color pattern of this group is greatly varied and the family is broken 

 up into, many species. In Hawaii four well-marked genera occur and at least 

 two dozen species have been found and described from the islands. The ])onu- 

 hunuhu -" has the spinous dorsal fin with a distinct black spot between the 

 first and second spines and the sides somewhat mottled, but without definite 

 spots or specks. They are quite common in the markets. The uhu -^ is a gen- 

 eral reddish color without conspicuous markings other than a narrow violet line 

 on the outer edge of the dorsal. They are not very abundant and as a result 

 command an exorbitant price. The uhu uliuli -- is one of the handsomest fish 

 of the islands. It is green in color with bars or stripes on the dorsal and spots 

 on the scales of the lower sides and a curious rectangular patch over the snont. 

 The blue parrot-fish ^^ is a fine brilliant blue fish that in the olden time was 

 tabu, for the use of the chiefs alone. It now sells at a ridiculousl\- hiLili price 

 and is eaten raw. The pipe-fish family --^ is represented by three or four genera, 

 one of which -•'• is of interest since it includes two island species of th(> cui i(Mis 

 sea-horse. Both species are so rare, however, that there seems to be no geiierall\- 

 accepted native name for the curious animal. 



Porcupine-Fish. 



Porcupine fishes-" occur in the gi-oup. there being foni' s|)ecies in all. They 

 are more or less spherical in form and as tlie name implies, have the liody well 

 armed with sharp spines the ])ases of which a!'(- so bi-oad as to form a coat of 

 mail in the skin. The oopu kawa -' is the species commonly on exhibition in 

 the Aquarium. It is a sluggisli tish, living at the bottom amoni; the seaweeds 

 on the coral reefs aI)out the islands. They are reported as being poisonous. 

 AVhen disturbed they swallow aii- and float belly up on the watei'. Their power 

 of inflation, however, is not so mai'k'ed as that of the giohe-tisli or iMirt'ei's. to 

 which they are related. As they ai'e sehk)m uslhI for food, their princi[)al u.se 



'^ Scaridfp. i^ Lahridcc. -" Calotomus sandriceiiMs. -^ Callyodon uiiniatuii. 



-- CaUi/odnn pi'i-xi)icrllatiix. -^ Pxpudoxranis jardniti. "* Sini<jn(ith\d(r. "•• H iiiixirctiiinin. 



"^ Diodontida'. '-' Dindon niuliinius. 



