276 NA.TURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



There are several smaller s])ecies of this and of allied genera in the Gulf of Mexico, and on 

 the western side of the Isthnms of Panama and in the Gulf of California. On the California coast 

 occurs a species, Pomacentrus rubicundus, conspicuous by reason of its uniformly deep crimson or 

 orange coloration, which is usually known as the "Garibaldi" among the Italians. The names 

 " Gold-flsh" and "Red Perch" are also used, all of them referring to its brilliant orange colorations. 

 It reaches a weight of three pounds, and a length of less than a foot. It is found about the Santa 

 Barbara Islands and southward to Lower California. It lives about rocky places, and is generally 

 abundant. Its food is largely crustaceous. It is a food-fish of low grade, and has little economic 

 importance. Another somewhat noteworthy species is known in California, on account of its dusky 

 colors, as the "Blacksmith," Ohromis puncUpinnis, Cooper. 



"This fish," writes Jordan, "is known as the 'Blacksmith' from its dusky colors. It reaches a 

 weight of about two pounds. It ranges from the Santa Barbara Islands southward, living about 

 reefs of rock, and is locally abundant, It feeds on shells and Crustacea. It is considered as 

 indifferent food." 



The family Gichlidm is large, and is composed chiefly of fresh- water fishes occurring in the 

 tropical parts of Africa and America. Among its members is a South American species, Geopliagus 

 surinamensis, which is often mentioned by writers on the instincts of animals on account of a 

 peculiar habit of the males which carry in their mouths the eggs until they are hatched, and 

 which are even said to allow the young fish to seek refuge within their jaws. We have no repre- 

 sentatives of the family on our Atlantic coast, though one or two species of the genus Meros occur 

 in the brackish waters of Texas. 



90. THE SURF-FISH FAMILY— EMBIOTOCID^. 



By Dayid S. Joedan. 



This remarkable group of fishes forms the most characteristic feature of the fauna of our Pacific 

 coast. Of the nineteen species now known, all but one {Bitrema Temmincki of Japan) occur on the 

 coast of California, and most of them in very great abundance. The species are most of them very 

 similar in habits and economic value, and the following general remarks are proffered before pro- 

 ceeding to the discussion of the different species. 



Names. — The general natoe "Perch" is applied to these fishes everywhere along the coast. 

 This unfortunate misnomer came about from their resemblance to the sun-fishes or " perch" of the 

 Southern States, and to the "white perch," Eoccus americanus, of the East. On the coast of Oregon 

 the large species (especially _Dam«Mc7i.<%s argyrosomus) are called "Pogy" or "Porgee," in allusion 

 to their undoubted resemblance to the scup or porgee of the East. The names " Minny," " Sparada," 

 and " Moharra" are also applied to the smaller species northward. About San Francisco, the name 

 "Perch" is given to them all, as well as to Archoplites interruptus, and separate names for the 

 different species are seldom heard. From Monterey southward, the name " Surf-fish" is in common 

 use, although the name " Perch" is still more common. 



Habits, &o. — The largest Bhacoehilus toxotes, reaches a weight of four pounds; the smallest, 

 Abeona minima, a length of four or five inches. So far as we are able to judge, the growth of the 

 young is quite rapid, as the specimens are about half grown the first winter, and probably reach 

 full size in two and a half to three years — perhaps, in some cases, in the second year. 



The center of distribution of this group is from Santa Barbara to Tomales Bay. Northward 

 the number of species decreases, while the number of individuals is, perhaps, equally great as far 

 as the Gulf of Georgia. Southward both individuals and species rapidly diminish in number. 



