THE AXLMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 2>72, 



stance on the chin. These they employ for feelers, using tln'iii to slii- ii[i the 

 sand on the bottom, as they search for the small animals iiixui wliidi they feed. 

 Their scales are large and thin, and the fish are all bright-colored, usually red 

 or red and golden. About a dozen and a luilf of closely-related species are 

 found in the ocean about Hawaii. These wrv divided among three important 

 genera. Weke is the name applied by the Hawaiians to a luunber of the 

 species. The name is also used in condjination with moi-e speeitie descriptive 

 terms, so that weke or weke ula '''•* is specifically applied to the bi'ight red-col- 

 ored surmullet of which enormous quantities are annually marketed in the 

 islands. In the Aquarium they attract much attention as tliey swim along- 

 carrying their chin barbules extended in advance of them, cautiously feeling 

 their way as they go. 



The goat-fish proper 'J'^ are represented by the moano,*^^ the munu '^- and 

 the kumu,*^^ all of which are highly-colored common species. 



SwORDFlSll. 



Occasionally a swordfish'''^ is taken by the Hawaiian fishermen, and in 

 this way reaches the market under the name a'u. They are fishes of great 

 size, with the upper jaw prolonged to form a "sword," which is flattened hori- 

 zontally. h)0 far as is known, the family ^'^ is represented by a single species 

 of world-wide distribution. They are mainly pelagic in their habits and are 

 among the most predaceous and savage of the monsters of the deep. They not 

 only transfix their ordinary prey with their formidable sword, but use it in a 

 merciless attack on whales, which, from repeated stabs, often succumb. 



Occasionally this pugnacious fish mistakes a ship's hull for an enemy and 

 charges it, sending its sword crashing through several inches of timber. On 

 one occasion the writer ])liotographed a swordfish bill that had been rammed 

 tlii'ough the stern sheets of a small deep-sea-going craft. The vessel had l)eeii 

 hauled out of the water for repairs in Honolulu harbor, when, to the surprise 

 of the ship's master, the beaks of the swordfish were found driven deep into 

 the hull, one of them piercing the solid pine shell to a depth of twelve inehes. 

 Whih^ swordfish are usuallx' four to six feet in leimth, \\\v\ may measui'e 

 twelve or fifteen feet and have a sword a yard in length. The largest animals 

 sometimes weigh as much as 600 ])ounds or more. The flesh of the swordfish 

 is red in color and rich in flavor, and is evei'vwhere prized as delieious food. 



The trigger-fish'''"' are I'alher large-size shore fislies tliat are partl\- hei'biv- 

 orous and pai'tly earnivoi'cMis in habit. They are i-arely used as food, and 

 some of them are reputed t)y the natives to be poisonous. They ai'e I'ein.-ifkable 

 and interesting in that the fli-st dorsal fin is composed of a short, stout I'ough 

 spine Avith a smaller one behind it. and usually a third so placetl that, by 

 foucliing it, the first s])i!ie may be i'igidl_\' set oi' c-isily I'cleased. wIkmi it folds 



^^ MtiUoides aurijii} iiiiiiii . "" I'xi'inhiiH'iieii.s s])]). *" I'sfiniii /ii'iit'iis in iiltifiisridhi/!. 



^- Pgeiulii ii''>ii'iis hijiisriiitiis. '^'•^ Paeiidupinieiis ixiriilii/n'ii.i. " ' A'i'/'/(i«.v 'iliidiiix, "^ Xiphiidcf. 



8'> Balixtida\ 



