a6 The Bass and their Relatives 
are elongate fishes common in the Mediterranean. Other Med- 
iterranean forms are Spondyltosoma cantharus, Oblata melanura, 
etc. Girella nigricans is the greenfish of California, every- 
where abundant about rocks to the south of San Francisco, 
and of considerable value as food. Almost exactly like it 
is the Mejinadai (Girella punctata) of Japan. The best-known 
members of this group belong to the genus Kyphosus. Kyphosus 
sectatrtx is the rudder-fish, or Chopa blanca, common in the 
West Indies and following ships to the northward even as far 
as Cape Cod, once even taken at Palermo. It is supposed 
that it is enticed by the waste thrown overboard. Kyphosus 
elegans is found on the west coast of Mexico, Kyphosus tahmel 
in the East Indies and Polynesia, and numerous other species 
occur in tropical America and along the coasts of southern 
Asia. Sectator ocyurus is a more elongate form of rudder-fish, 
striped with bright blue and yellow, found in. the Pacific. 
Medialuna californtensis is the half-moon fish, or medialuna, 
of southern California, an excellent food-fish frequently taken 
on rocky shores. Numerous related species occur in the Indian 
seas. 
Fossil fragments in Europe have been referred to Boops, 
Spondyliosoma, and other genera. 
Fic. 288a.—Blue-green Sunfish, A pomotes cyanellus (Rafinesque). Kansas River. 
(After Kellogg.) 
