94. LABRID^ IIARPE. 
601 
943« It. falCEltUS (L.) C. & V. — Hog-jiali; Aigrette; Caintaine. 
Chiefly red 5 a jet black spot usually present at base of soft dorsal; 
ventrals dusky; cheeks with 4 rows of scales. Ventrals reaching be- 
yond tips of pectorals. Head 3; depth 2^; scales 8-40-19 ; vert. 12 + 
17. L. 14 inches. West Indies, north to Florida; abundant. An ex- 
cellent food-fish ; varies much with age. 
(Lahrus faJcatus L. Syst. Nat. i, 475 : Laelmolcemus falcatus, aigula, dux, suilhts, 
caninus, and psittacus C. & V. xiii, 277-291; Giinther, iv, 67; Goode, Bull. U. S. Nat. 
Mus. V, 36, 1876.) 
318.— HARPE Lac^pMe. 
Lady -fishes. 
(Coss^p/ms Cuv. & Val. ; preoccupied: Troc/iocopas Giinther: Pimelometopon G'lW.) 
(Lac^ptde, Hist. Nat. Poiss, iv, 426, 1802: type Harpe cccruleo-aureus 'Lac.= Lahrus 
rufiis L.) 
Body oblong, moderately compressed, covered with firm scales of vary- 
ing size, 25 to GO in the course of the lateral line, which is continuous. 
Head rather pointed in the young, becoming very deep and convex in 
the adult from the development of the adipose tissue on the top of the 
head. Opercle, subopercle, interopercle, and cheeks scaly, preopercle 
naked ; jireopercle minutely serrulate or entire. Jaws each with four 
strong, conical, somewhat comjiressed canines in front, the lateral teeth 
similar, but much smaller, coalescent at base with each other, and with 
small granular teeth, so that the surface of the jaws is bony; upper 
jaw with strong posterior canines, directed forwards. Dorsal fin with 
about twelve low spines, its soft portion scaly at base or naked ; anal 
with three spines, the spines rather strong ; lobes of soft dorsal, anal and 
caudal more or less produced in the adult; ventrals inserted directly 
below pectorals. Gill-membranes slightly connected. Coarse, brightly- 
colored fishes, inhabiting tropical seas, {dp-rj, scythe; in allusion to the 
falcate fins.) 
a. Base of dorsal scaly ; scales rather large; vertical fius with falcate lobes. {Harpe.) 
944. 14. riita (L.) Gill. — Lady-fish; Doncella. 
Head and upper half of body anteriorly rich chestnut brown ; re- 
mainder, including lower half of operculum, bright golden yellow. 
Snout pointed, its length more than one-third that of the head. Head 
longer than high. Upper lip thick, with conspicuous folds; preoper- 
culum denticulate. Two outer ventral rays and lobes of soft dorsal, 
anal and caudal much produced ; the long rays of the dorsal and anal 
extending to the middle of the median caudal rays, the outer caudal 
