436 



THE 



JRALIST 



[Vol.LII 



The most commonly known, the largest and the most 

 highly organized crustaceans, the Malacostraca, are very 

 common. Space does not permit even a general sketch 

 of the many crabs, prawns, crayfish and other interest in- 

 forms that teem in the Hawaiian littoral. The so-called 

 Hawaiian "lobster," -ula, PamiUnts japonicus, is really a 

 large marine crayfish, and not closely related to the true 

 lobster. It is brilliantly colored and ornamented, with 

 spiny carapace and long antennae. The ula is common in 

 the fish markets, as are also species of Scyllarides, Ocy- 

 poda, and many crabs. Hermit crabs (Onomura) are 

 common and in great variety. They make their homes in 

 empty sea-shells, and have many interesting habits. 6 



The last great division of the reef fauna comprises the 

 fishes, a group that could easily occupy the space of an 

 extended monograph. There are several hundred reef 

 species, occupying a wide range of habitats, and varying 

 in size from minute species up to huge food-fish weighing 

 a hundred pounds each. Like the fish of many tropical 

 waters, the Hawaiian species are famous for their bril- 

 liant coloration, fantastic patterns, and strange shapes. 

 Many are grotesque; many are exceedingly beautiful; 

 many are consummate embodiment of that riot of gor- 

 geous color that is so characteristic of the reef and its 

 life. The reef fishes, like the other littoral forms of life, 

 were an important item in the dietary of the primitive 

 Hawaiians, and continue so to the present day. Most of 

 the common species are offered for sale in the fish-markets. 

 Space is not available for any detailed account of the in- 



• The following list of common littoral and reef species and genera of 

 malacostraceans will indicate the richness of this portion of Hawaii's re- 



Grapsns grapsus, Metopgrapsus mes&or, Pachygrapsus plicatus, Cyclograp- 

 sus, Percnon, Carpilius, Platypodia, Lophozozymus, Xantho, Leptodius, 

 Xanthodius, Etisiis, Acta>a, Chlorodiella, Phymodius, GmpsUlus frrrugiiuu*. 

 Polydectus eupulifer, Portunus, Charybdis, Thalamita, Podophthalmus, 

 Simocarcinus simplex, Calappa; II. Macrura— Scyllarides, Patcemonella, 

 Parribacus, Panulirus, Stenopus, Penmis, Hippolysmata, Spirontocaris, 



