284 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



BERMUDA HOG FISH. 



previously at the Aquarium seldom li\ing longer 

 than a year. 



When they arrived on September 6, IQ04, they 

 were four inches and six inches in length respec- 

 tively. The larger specimen is now twenty inches 

 long and the other nearly as large. They are both 

 handsome specimens, in fine condition, and are 

 very active. 



The wall tanks at the Aquarium afford very little 

 swimming space for active fishes. They would 

 probably do better in one of the large floor pools 

 where there is more room. 

 The brackish nature of the 

 water is also injurious to ocean 

 fishes. These specimens have 

 been fed on minnows, herring, 

 and shrimps. 



* * * 



The Grunts.— The blue- and 

 yellow-striped grunts at the 

 Aquarium often engage in a 

 performance which may be 

 described as "sparring." 



A couple of these fishes 

 advance toward each other 

 until the tips of both the 

 upper and lower jaws touch 

 those of the opposing fish, 

 then follow something like 

 wrestling movements as thev 



endeavor to push each other 

 backward. 



During the play, if it be 

 such, the mouth of each fish 

 is opened to the fullest stretch 

 so that the vermilion interior 

 is revealed as a bright spot of 

 color in the amusing picture. 

 The grunts have rather 

 plain hues except for their 

 numerous blue and yellow 

 bands, and the sudden open- 

 ing of the mouth displays an 

 unexpected color which is al- 

 most startling. 



This sparring among the 

 grunts can often be started 

 by attracting the fishes to the 

 glass front of the tank by 

 touching the glass with the 

 The fishes press forward as 

 they gather together at feeding time, and, finding 

 nothing to eat, one or more pairs may attempt to 

 crowd each other away, threatening or sparring 

 with the open mouth in the manner described. 



On approaching the glass, against which the 

 fingers may be placed, the grunts frequently open 

 the mouth. The tips of the wide-opened jaws will 

 be pressed against the glass following the move- 

 ments of the finger on the other side. The sparring 

 is more frequent if the fish are hungry. 



uuts[)read fingers. 



BERMUDA YELLOW TAIL. 



