114 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. vi 



coral branches, why are the spines directed forwards ? 

 The spines would act, surely, like ordinary fish-hooks, and 

 not only prevent the enemy from disgorging his prey, but 

 actually help it in its passage down his gullet. If, on the 

 other hand, their enemies catch them by the head, why are 

 the hooks not situated there instead of on the taU ? 



At the best of times the old trigger-fishes cannot be 

 a satisfactory or savoury meal; for the scales form a 

 very complete tuberculated armour which covers the whole 

 body, and the file-Like trigger spine must be an awkward 

 morsel to swallow and digest. The jaws are armed with 

 eight strong, chisel-shaped teeth, by means of which they 

 are able to browse upon the hard coral branches or break 

 through the shells of moUusks to feed upon the soft parts 

 within. It is said that the trigger-fishes cause an immense 

 amount of damage to the pearl-fisheries. 



Another Balistes (B. lineatus) 1 often saw, but never 

 succeeded in capturing. It is marked with a number of 

 thin transverse lines of a bright red colour, giving the fish 

 a most curious bizarre appearance. 



Those curious fishes the sea-horses (Hippocampi) are 

 sometimes found upon the reefs or in the vicinity. I never 

 caught any of them myself, but have seen them in the 

 collection of the resident of Manado. 



Another very interesting fish, which I have often seen- 

 upon the reefs, and succeeded in capturing on one or two 

 occasions, is the ' ikan sapi,' or cow-fish, of the natives 

 {Ostracion Arcus, Bl.) . It possesses two long, sharp spines 

 above its head not unlike the horns of a cow, and its 

 projecting mouth and thick lips resemble in a way the 

 mouth and lips of a ruminant. The body is protected with 

 a firm and unresisting box-like armour of thick scales. 

 In colour this fish is, when quite fresh, uniformly greenish- 

 brown on the dorsal surface, gradually changing to a pale 



