FOUR-HORNED SCULPIN. 



CHAPTER III 



Tropical and Southern Fishes 



To deal adequately with the teeming fish-life of the tropical and subtropical seas, 

 let alone to describe the brilliant colouring and beautiful patterns of many of the 

 coral-haunting species, would require at least as many pages as /form the present 

 volume. All that can be attempted here is to direct the attention of the reader to 

 a few of the more striking and interesting types of such fishes. 



The great richness of tropical seas in fish-life, that is to say in the number 

 of species rather than in the number of individuals, is dependent in all probability 

 on the multitude of small islands in many of these oceans, the generally favour- 

 able natural surroundings, and the abundance of food. The brilliancy of colouring 

 and the beauty of pattern in tropical fishes may perhaps be attributed, on the 

 other hand, as in the case of birds, to the stimulating influence of abundant and 

 intense light and warmth. 



Commencing with the great group of perch-like fishes, we have 

 first of all the species of the genus Beryx, typifying the family 

 Berychidce. These are for the most part deep-water fishes, for which there appear 

 to be no English names, but the members of two of the genera are notable as 

 being surface-feeding fishes inhabiting the tropical seas, and of good quality for 

 the table. The surface-haunting genera are Myrvpristis and Holocentnum, each 

 of which has a large number of species, averaging about fifteen inches in length, 

 and for the most part pinkish in colour above and silvery below. The members 

 of the first-named genus are characterised by the short snout and oblique mouth, 

 whereas in the second genus the snout is produced into a kind of beak and the 



Beryx Group. 



