FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 203 



Lepidaplois mesothorax Fowler, Journ, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, vol. 



12, 1904, p. 535 (Padang, Sumatra). — Evermann and Seale, Bull. Bur. 



Fisher., vol. 26, 1906 (1907), p. 94 (Bacon).— Ogilby, Mem. Queensland 



Mus., vol. 5, 1916, p. 184 (Barrier Reef). 

 Crenilabrus elegans (Kuhl and Van Hasselt) Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. 



Poiss., vol. 13, 1839, p. 130. Batavia (name in text). 

 Scarus mordax Gray, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Gronow, vol. 2, 1854, p. 64. 



Indian Sea. 



Depth 22^ to 3; head 2^ to 3, width 2 to 2}i. Snout 3 to 3i^; 

 eye 43/^ to 5}4, 1% to 1J4 in snout, 1)4 to 1^ in interorbital; 

 maxillary reaches eye or slightly beyond front eye edge, 2^ to 3 in 

 head; strong conic canine each side above directed forward; inter- 

 orbital S'^i to 3^, convex. Gill rakers 6 + 11, lanceolate, short. 



Scales in lateral line 29 to 32 + 2 or 3; 5 scales above lateral line, 

 11 below, 31 to 34 predorsal. Scales v/ith 23 to 27 basal radiating 

 striae; apically 3 or 4 weak imperfect striae; circuli very fine. 



D. XII, 9, I or 10, I, twelfth spine 2 to 2i^ in head, first ray 1% 

 to 2; A. Ill, 12, third spine 1^^ to 2, first ray 1^ to Ij^; caudal l}/e 

 to 13^, truncate, little convex behind as expanded; least depth of 

 caudal peduncle IJ^ to 2; pectoral IM to. 1%; ventral 1% to 1^. 



Upper surface of head and front of back deep sepia; on head dark 

 color bounded below by blackish band from above end of maxillary 

 back to preopercle angle; on back color bounded sharply behind by 

 oblique black band, usually from last dorsal spines so that most of 

 dorsal fin usually dark to pectoral axil. Otherwise body pale 

 yellowish. 



East Indian region, Queensland. Variation is noticeable in that 

 the black dorsal band may sometimes begin at the middle of the 

 spinous dorsal and it seldom extends back to the front edge of the 

 soft dorsal. In all our examples at least the membranes and spines 

 of spinous dorsal medianly are terminally blackish, only greenish 

 yellow basally and not entirely yellowish as shown in Bleeker's 

 figure. None of our examples have the lower side of the head dark 

 below the rictal streaks as Bleeker shows. 



7685. Agojo Point, Catanduanes Island. June 10, 1909. Length, 152 mm. 



4963. Alibijaban Island. March 6, 1909. Length, 145 mm. 



13501 and 14894. Alimango Bay, Burias Island. March 5, 1909. Length, 164 



to 171 mm. 

 1 example, Burias Island. March 5, 1909. Length, 148 mm. 

 7256. Busbus Point, Siasi Island. September 20, 1909. Length, 136 mm. 

 18723. Butauanan Island. June 13, 1909. Length, 147 mm. 

 9214. Camp Overton, Mindanao. August 6, 1909. Length, 158 mm. 

 10977 and 15056. Canmahala Bay, Ragay Gulf. March 11, 1909. Length, 



166 to 184 mm. 

 15073. Capulaan Bay, Pagbilao Island. February 24, 1909. Length, 112 mm. 

 6891. Danawan Island and Si Amil Island. September 26, 1909. Length, 



128 mm. 

 16643. Galera Bay, Mindoro, June 9, 1908. Length, 118 mm. 



