The Parrot-fishes 25% 
a plain pot-hunter fisherman, who would murder 
it in cold blood, and stow it away in a bag to gloat 
over its size and weight with other barbarians 
ashore. 
My catch was estimated at three and a half feet 
in length as it lay on the surface, for I would not 
allow Long John to take it in, much to his 
amazement; and that it would have tipped the 
scales at nearly thirty pounds, I am confident, 
having weighed several individuals taken in a 
trap or net for scientific purposes, which tipped 
the scales at twenty and twenty-five pounds. As 
it lay on the water it was a beautiful object, seem- 
ingly painted with the same brush used in deco- 
rating the marvellous turquoise channels of the 
reef; body, fins, tail, even the iris, was the same 
rich and radiant hue, giving remarkable expres- 
sion to its eye. At the base of the fins the blue 
was deeper, more intense, bordering on purple; the 
belly was greenish blue; while upon its “cheeks,” 
below the eye, this macaroni of the “gulfs en- 
chanted” had touches of rouge,—at least a 
decided pink flush was seen that heightened its 
gorgeous costuming. The lower jaw was touched 
with yellow, the pupil of the eye had a narrow 
yellow band inside the deep blue iris; give to the 
Z 
