The Mariposas 355 
all the colors of the rainbow, this group is well 
named the mariposas, or butterfly-fishes. 
The black angel-fish, Pomacanthus arcuatus 
(Fig. 9), might better be termed the gray angel-fish, 
as in thousands observed on the reef I never saw 
a black individual or one that approached black; 
hence the black angel-fish is black in the sense 
that the white elephant of Siam is white. Its 
color is a peculiar beautiful gray, some of the 
scales being very dark with white borders. The 
broad tail has a white border; the mouth is pure 
white. All these fishes, due to the lofty or ele- 
vated “forehead,” the projecting mouth, and their 
faculty of moving the eyes more than many 
other fishes, have more of a “face” in the human 
sense than almost any other group of fishes; and 
to watch them in the home of their choice is an 
interesting, indeed, fascinating, occupation. In 
movement they are exceedingly dignified, spend- 
ing much time posing among the branches of 
coral, and assuming many mannerisms which 
attract one’s attention. I hooked them readily 
with the tackle described, and was always repaid. 
The first rush away of the fish is so violent that 
the novice almost invariably loses the delicate 
line and hook; and so impetuous is the dash, so 
