70 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
tense blue on the jaws, operculum, base of pectoral, forehead, 
and edgings of the dorsal and anal fins. Two species of butter- 
fiy-fishes were secured, exquisitely dainty in their coloration. 
There were blue and white parrot-fish, three kinds of ‘‘tang’’ 
and two kinds of ‘‘grunt.’’ In one tubful we distinguished at 
least twenty-five species of brilliantly colored forms. 
But the colors are no more striking than the bizarre forms 
of these fishes about the reefs. Several kinds of so-called ‘‘eels,’’ 
or morays, were secured. When one of these is trapped in the 
fish-pots there is a lively time aboard. Of all fishes they seem 
to me the most courageous. ‘Their movements are extremely 
rapid; they are almost impossible to hold, so slippery are they; 
and their numerous lance-like teeth are dangerous weapons, 
often inflicting serious wounds on the fishermen. When in the 
trap they attack the other fishes most viciously, and when they 
escape into the boat there is always an exciting scramble te 
avoid their savage lunges. They are the acme of predaceous 
fishes. 
On one occasion when watching the surf pounding on the 
outer sea-wall, we saw one of the morays leap suddenly from 
the foaming crest of an advancing wave and catch a crab on a 
rock entirely out of the water, and disappear instantly with its 
victim in its mouth. This is one of the very few instances where 
a fish will actually leave the water to attack its prey. 
The trunk-fishes are among the strangest of tropical forms. 
We secured two or three species. These have a rigid, bony, 
box-like body, with holes left for the working of the fins and 
tail. They are covered with conspicuous spots or reticular pat- 
terns in fine lines. We found Lactophrys triqueter, L. trigonus, 
and LL. bicaudalis, or spotted trunk-fish. These are regarded as 
edible by the natives, although they are far from attractive in 
appearance. One of the largest specimens was given to our 
diver, Albert, to take home. He reported afterward that it 
made his whole family sick, and his graphic account included 
the remark, ‘‘De first mon to spew was the ecat!’’ 
The poreupine-fish (Diodon hystrix) is common and among 
the curios most frequently encountered in the shops of the 
dealers in Bridgetown. Some of them are of considerable size, 
- up to two feet in length, and almost globular in form when 
