THE SLY EPIBULUS. 35 i 



Even on our own coasts the Labridae are most lovely creatures, but it is in the tropical 

 and warmer seas of the world that they are to be seen in their full brilliancy. No artist 

 can transfer to paper the radiant hues that glow on these favored members of the finny 

 race, and no pen can do justice to their wondrous splendor, as they dart through the 

 crystalline water like living meteors, or leisurely traverse the forests of moving algae, 

 balancing themselves among the submarine foliage like humming-birds of the sea. 



The CHEQUERED SWINE-FISH is one of the singular species which are so frequent in 

 the hotter seas, and which exhibit a surface at once colored with the brightest hues, and 

 decorated with a pattern as geometrically regular as if drawn by the aid of rule and 

 compass. This fish is found on the coasts of Ceyloa Its color is bright green on the 

 back, gradually changing to golden yellow towards the abdomen. The chequered 

 marks on the body are purple and gray, and the stripes and spots on the head are rich 

 glowing orange. In allusion to the wicker-like markings and the brilliant colors of the 

 fish, the natives call it by the name of Hembili Girawah ; the former word signifying 

 the little basket in which betel is carried, and the latter a parrot. 



Though edible, this fish is not regularly captured for the markets. It generally fre- 

 quents the rocky portions of the coast. It never attains any great dimensions, none 

 seeming to measure more than fifteen inches in length. 



SLY EPIBULUS.-Bplbulus tasMator, 



THE curious fish which is represented in the accompanying illustration, has derived 

 its popular and scientific titles from the crafty manner in which it obtains its food. 



In this fish, the mouth and jaws exhibit a very remarkable modification of structure, 

 which enables the creature to protrude its mouth with great rapidity, and to such a 

 degree, that when pushed forward to its greatest extent, it is even longer than the head. 

 Aided by this apparatus, the SLY EPIBULUS captures its prey as follows. It feeds 

 mostly upon small fishes, and instead of alarming them by charging among their ranks, 

 and so giving itself a tedious and possibly an unsuccessful chase, it quietly withdraws 

 itself to some sheltered spot, and waits, still and motionless as the watchful kingfisher, 

 and no less dangerous to the smaller members of the finny tribe. No sooner does an 

 unwary fish pass near the cunning enemy, deceived by its apparent harmlessness, than 



