CHAPTER XIX 
THE BASS AND THEIR RELATIVES 
WIHE Cardinal-fishes. Apogonide.—The A pogontde or car- 
dinal-fishes are perch-like fishes, mostly of small size, 
28s) with two distinct short dorsal fins. They are found in 
the warm seas, and many of them enter rivers, some even in- 
habiting hot springs. Many of the shore species are bright red 
in color, usually with black stripes, bands, or spots. Still others, 
however, are olive or silvery, and a few in deeper water are 
violet-black. 
The species of Apogon are especially numerous, and in 
regions where they are abundant, as in Japan, they are much 
Fic. 252.—Cardinal-fish, A pogon retrosella Gill. Mazatlan. 
valued as food. Apogon imberbis, the ‘king of the mullet,” is 
a common red species of southern Europe. A pogon maculatus 
is found in the West Indies. Apogon retrosella is the pretty 
“cardenal” of the west coast of Mexico. Apogon lineatus, 
316 
