The Mariposas 355 



all the colors of the rainbow, this group is well 

 named the mariposas, or butterfly-fishes. 



The black angel-fish, Pomacanthus arcuatus 

 (Fig. 9), might better be termed the gray angel-fish, 

 as in thousands observed on the reef I never saw 

 a black individual or one that approached black ; 

 hence the black angel-fish is black in the sense 

 that the white elephant of Siam is white. Its 

 color is a peculiar beautiful gray, some of the 

 scales being very dark with white borders. The 

 broad tail has a white border ; the mouth is pure 

 white. All these fishes, due to the lofty or ele- 

 vated " forehead," the projecting mouth, and their 

 faculty of moving the eyes more than many 

 other fishes, have more of a " face " in the human 

 sense than almost any other group of fishes ; and 

 to watch them in the home of their choice is an 

 interesting, indeed, fascinating, occupation. In 

 movement they are exceedingly dignified, spend- 

 ing much time posing among the branches of 

 coral, and assuming many mannerisms which 

 attract one's attention. I hooked them readily 

 with the tackle described, and was always repaid. 

 The first rush away of the fish is so violent that 

 the novice almost invariably loses the delicate 

 line and hook ; and so impetuous is the dash, so 



