210 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



and other markets under the name ' porgie.' But it must be remembered that it is very 

 distinct from the species so called about New York, which belong to the family of 

 Sparids. The west-coast species is known as C. zonatus, and is very closely related to 

 the east-coast form, but it does not extend as far northward on the Pacific coast as its 

 eastern congener does along the Atlantic. 



The Ch^etodontid^ are fishes of brilliant colors, whose bi'anchial apertures are con- 

 tinuous below, and whose spinous and soft dorsal elements are continuous ; the upper 

 jaw is generally moderately protractile, and the upper bones of the shoulder girdle 

 have only single processes to articulate with the cranium. 



The species of Chsetodonts are numerous, and some are found in all tropical seas 

 and especially about coral reefs. The colors are usually very striking, both by the 

 contrast of the different hues and their distribution. The brighter hues are most apt 

 to appear as lines which trend in various directions, usually obliquely, forwards or 

 backwards, upwards or downwards, and not infrequently diagonally. The accompanj'- 

 ing plate will give a good idea of the range of coloration, or rather its mode of distri- 

 bution. The forais illustrated are three species of Chcetodon (C. setifer, C./asciatus, 

 and C. vittatus), two of Holacanthus {H. diacanthus and H. imperator) and one of 

 Seniochus {H. macrolepidotus). 



The Chsetodontids are generally of rather small or quite moderate size, and not of 

 much economical importance. There are some striking exceptions, however. The 

 Holacanthus imperator, figured on the plate, called by the Dutch, " Emperor of Japan," 

 is a fish resplendent in hues and notable for savoriness. It reaches a length of about 

 fifteen inches, and is one of the most esteemed of all the Indo-Pacific fishes, " resem- 

 bling our much-prized salmon in flavor." 



The angel-fish of the West Indies and Bermudas, Holacanthus ciliaris, also grows 

 to a considerable size, attaining a weight of about four pounds, and Mr. Goode thinks 

 that " it as far surpasses all the other fishes " of Bermuda " in its delicious flavor as in 

 its lovely hues." 



Zanclid^ is a family name for a single genus distinguished by the few spines of 

 the dorsal, but otherwise nearly related to the Chietodontids. The Zanclus cornutus, 

 as the name indicates, has a horn-like appendage to the forehead, and is held in great 

 reverence by the fishermen of the Moluccas, who bow to it when taken, and then re- 

 store it to the water. Inasmuch as the fish is a very savory one, we may understand 

 bow real the reverence of the natives is. 



The PsETTiD^, Platacid^, Scatophagid^, and Toxotid^ have been generally 

 associated with the Chjetodontoid fishes, but they are not Aery closely related, compara- 

 tively, to the preceding forms. Two types that have been widely separated, on the 

 other hand, appear to be really related, although this requires to be proved ; these are 

 the PENTACEEOTiDiE and Anoplid^. None of these, however, are of sufiicient inter- 

 est to demand extended notice, except, perhaps, the Toxotidffi. 



The T0XOTIDJ3 are fishes distinguished by the backwai-d position of the dorsal fin 

 and its few spines, and by the declining rectilinear outline in front of the dorsal. One 

 of the species has been very generally credited with the faculty of shooting drops of 

 water at insects on low-hanging branches, and thus securing them for food. There 

 does not appear to be any adaptation in the organization of the mouth for such a feat, 

 and skepticism must be exercised in the acceptance of the statement made. Certainly 

 no recent confirmation of the old story has been given, and the tradition has probably 

 resulted from some misunderstanding. 



