194* CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS I9I 



toward the ventral white of the fish's countershaded body. In the young, before 

 the pattern on the head is fully developed, with shimmering yellowish line. 



W. H. L. 



The colors mentioned by Dr. Longley have almost wholly faded in preserved 

 specimens. The outstanding color now is a black lateral band extending from 

 snout, through eye, to or somewhat on base of caudal; a black spot on dorsal 

 fin between spines 5 and 7; a small black spot at last ray of dorsal; and another 

 one at base of upper ray of pectoral. 



The scales in front of dorsal are greatly reduced, with seven or eight oblique 

 rows present next to mid-line of nape. In dentition it differs from the other local 

 forms in having only 2 enlarged canines in lower jaw, whereas the others have 4. 

 The 2 enlarged ones in upper jaw are peculiar in being curved outward very 

 strongly. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America to Florida, sometimes straying northward. 



S. F. H. 



Halichoeres bivittatus (Bloch). Slippery dick 



(Plate 12, figure 1; plate ij, figure 1; plate 19, figure 2; plate 25, figure 2; 



plate 32, figures 1,2) 



Although Dr. Longley listed many observations of this evidently very common 

 fish, I have found no discussion among his manuscripts. 



A note was found showing that Dr. Longley was in agreement with Mowbray 

 (Fauna bermudensis, No. 1, 1931, no pagination, with plate) concerning the dis- 

 tinctness of this species, which had been placed in the synonymy of Halichoeres 

 radiatus by some investigators. 



This species inhabits grassy bottom, and also is common about coral stacks and 

 gorgonians, and on alga-covered bottom. It was observed both in shallow and in 

 rather deep water, that is, up to about 15 feet. In general it stays comparatively 

 near bottom, and at night it apparently buries itself in sand. 



The color is so variable and of so many shades that Dr. Longley found it diffi- 

 cult to describe them. In general, however, the fish is olive-buff above and pale 

 underneath, and usually it has two distinct longitudinal bands on sides. It also 

 has a phase in which it has about ten distinct dark crossbars between gill opening 

 and base of caudal, and a less distinct one between gill opening and eye. In the 

 longitudinally .striped phase the two dark bands (the broader and more intense 

 one extending from snout through eye to middle of base of caudal, and the other 

 from base of pectoral nearly or quite to base of lower rays of caudal) may vary 

 from vinaceous to seal brown. Pectoral fin transparent, entirely without color; 

 dorsal and anal fins narrowly margined with pale blue, each with narrow bands 

 of pink and pale yellow, and a row of slight yellowish to light spots; caudal 

 marked with pale colors and with a broadly V-shaped vinaceous band with the 

 apex directed backward, with two pale yellow stripes on each side of it, and other 

 blue and pinkish bands, angles sometimes black; a vinaceous line extending from 

 eye to nape; a spot of the same color just above and back of eye. 



