THE BUTTERFLY-FISHES 



Family LXII. Ch&todontida 



BODY strongly compressed, elevated, orbicular, covered with 

 moderate-sized or small scales, which are finely ciliate cr nearly 

 smooth; lateral line present, concurrent with the back, not extend- 

 ing on caudal fin; mouth small, terminal, protractile; maxillary 

 very short, irregular in form, divided in two by a longitudinal 

 suture. 



Carnivorous fishes of the tropical seas, noted for their sin- 

 gular form, bright colours and great activity. There are 8 or 

 10 genera and nearly 200 species. They are exceedingly active 

 and their quickness of sense and motion enable them to maintain 

 themselves in the struggle for existence in the close competition 

 that exists among the species about coral reefs notwithstanding 

 their bright colours. In our waters are found about 20 species, 

 only a few of which are large enough to be ranked as food- 

 fishes. On account of their shape, as well as their brilliant 

 colours, most of the species are known as butterfly-fishes, or 

 mariposas where Spanish is spoken. 



The genus Pomacanthus contains 3 species, each of some 

 importance as a food-fish. P. arcuatus, the black angel, is gener- 

 ally common in the West Indies and is occasionally taken as 

 far north as New Jersey, and south to Bahia. It is not rare at 

 Key West and was found by us in Cuba and Porto Rico. It 

 attains a length of nearly 2 feet and a weight of several pounds. 

 Those seen at Key West do not usually exceed 2 or 3 pounds. 

 It is present there throughout the year and is caught chiefly in 

 traps, though it is sometimes speared. 



P. paru, the Indian fish, is found among the West Indies 

 and southward, but has not yet been recorded from the United 

 States. P. qonipectus is the west coast representative of the genus. 

 It is rather common about rocks from Mazatlan to Panama. 



The genus Holacanthus has numerous species, two of which 

 are of considerable food-importance. The most important species 

 is the rock beauty or palmoneta, H. tricolor. It is a most 

 beautiful and interesting fish, rather common throughout the West 



484 



