alga, Codimn , only found some distance from the reef on the algal 

 plain. Among assorted species offered, Codium , was selectively- 

 chosen. On several occasions, gray angelfishes approached divers 

 holding Codinm and ate it from their hand. (They sometimes also 

 chew^ed strings from the collecting bags and even pulled on long 

 wisps of hair) • 



On July 20 at 0708 hours, a single gray angelfish appeared to be 

 unusually still on a sand bottom near a small rock in 17 m depth 

 close to the habitat. The fishes' pectorals were spread. It 

 remained stationary as I approached until I was less than 1 meter 

 away; it then moved, and I saw that it had been parked at a 

 cleaning station. Several transparent shrimp ttmibled free when 

 the angelfish moved away, and quickly returned to the tentacles 

 of an anemone that lived along the side of the rock. 



Randall (1967) found stomach contents of 34 gray angelfishes to 



contain 8.3% algae including 13 leafy, and 4 fleshy species, and 



0.1% seagrass, Ruppia maritima . The remainder was mostly invertebrate, 



principally sponges and tunicates. A juvenile contained 75% filamentous 



algae. 



Reports from others also indicate a mixed diet, including sponges 

 (Lowe, 1962); mixed algae, hydroids , etc. (Beebee and Tee-Van 1928); 

 algae and crustaceans (Gudger, 1929); invertebrates and vegetation 

 (Breder, 1948); algae and sedentary animals (Longley and Hildebrand, 

 1941). 



Pomacanthus paru (Bloch) . French Angelfish 



One large individual was seen on the main reef at midday; another 

 (possibly the same one) was found nearby along the face of the reef 

 at night (2130 hours), immobile, but exposed. 



Sponges dominate the diet of 23 specimens examined by Randall (1967) 

 but algae comprised 13.4% including 2 filamentous, 5 leafy, and 8 

 fleshy species, but one Individual, the largest examined, contained 

 only filamentous algae. 



Acanthuridae. The Surgeonfishes 



Three species of surgeonfishes occur in the West Indies, all of them 

 common in Lameshur Bay, and all vegetarians. Their teeth are 

 spathulate and denticulate on the edge, and the digestive tract very 

 long (Breder and Clark, 1947), characteristics suited for obtaining 

 and digesting plant material. Two species, Acanthurus chirurgus and 

 A. bahianus have a thick-walled stomach. An attempt was made to see 

 if the eating habits of the three species differed. 



VI 



