The California Sheepshead 177 
finement I found that the rich crimson band 
faded in a few days. 
The coloring of this remarkable fish is so ar- 
ranged that it appears to have three large distinct 
bands; the head black, the mid-body crimson, the 
caudal portion black. In old males the under- 
jaw becomes very prominent and is pure white. 
The fish has an enormous mouth, recalling that 
of the hogfish, which is armed with canine teeth 
so prominent that they give it a most ferocious 
appearance. The eye is small yet richly colored, 
and while lost in the enormous head, is an inter- 
esting organ giving character to the fish, due, 
perhaps, to its unusual power of motion. Thus a 
large sheepshead, which I kept in confinement, 
would follow me around as I walked by its tank, 
begging to be fed, poising and holding itself in 
position by delicate and dexterous motions of its 
side-fins. It would follow every movement with 
its eyes, tipping and turning about to an extraor- 
dinary extent. This fish became very tame, and 
with it I kept others of both sexes and all sizes, 
which were so varied in color and marking that 
they would be easily considered different fishes by 
those not familiar with them. The females were 
normally a dusky red or rose color all over; some 
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