The Parrot-fishes 337 



a plain pot-hunter fisherman, who would murder 

 it in cold blood, and stow it away in a bag to gloat 

 over its size and weight with other barbarians 

 ashore. 



My catch was estimated at three and a half feet 

 in length as it lay on the surface, for I would not 

 allow Long John to take it in, much to his 

 amazement; and that it would have tipped the 

 scales at nearly thirty pounds, I am confident, 

 having weighed several individuals taken in a 

 trap or net for scientific purposes, which tipped 

 the scales at twenty and twenty-five pounds. As 

 it lay on the water it was a beautiful object, seem- 

 ingly painted with the same brush used in deco- 

 rating the marvellous turquoise channels of the 

 reef; body, fins, tail, even the iris, was the same 

 rich and radiant hue, giving remarkable expres- 

 sion to its eye. At the base of the fins the blue 

 was deeper, more intense, bordering on purple ; the 

 belly was greenish blue ; while upon its " cheeks," 

 below the eye, this macaroni of the "gulfs en- 

 chanted " had touches of rouge, at least a 

 decided pink flush was seen that heightened its 

 gorgeous costuming. The lower jaw was touched 

 with yellow, the pupil of the eye had a narrow 

 yellow band inside the deep blue iris ; give to the 



