FAMILY LABRIDAE — SCHTJLTZ 147 



My study of the specimens referable to this genus has indicated 

 a considerable amount of misunderstanding about the species, 

 especially the limits of variability in color pattern and the scales on 

 the cheek. The analysis of the various species of the tropical Indo- 

 Pacific indicates that at least three of these species described from 

 the Hawaiian Islands are distinct from those species recognized 

 elsewhere in the tropical Indo-Pacific. For each species studied, the 

 dark dorsal spot appears to be fixed in location with little variability, 

 although its size has limited variation. The white patch on the side 

 (red when alive) is not always well preserved in alcohol but seems to 

 be present on most of the species. There is no notable variation in 

 number of fin rays or scales for any of the species referable to this 

 genus. 



This genus may be recognized by the following characters : Branched 

 caudal fin rays 5 or 6+5 or 6, the outer ray wealdy divided or not 

 divided; gill rakers on first gill arch 5 to 7 + 1 + 10 to 14; dorsal rays 

 IX,12, the first two spines flexible, the second spine connected to 

 third by a deeply incised membrane; anal 111,12; pectoral rays ii,10 

 rarely ii,ll ; lateral line pores 20 to 22+5 or 6 (usually 5) ; 2 (sometimes 

 a third, smaller) scales above lateral line to base of first soft dorsal 

 ray and 9 to 11 (usually 10) scales from lateral line to anal origin; 

 cheek with from one row of scales under eye to a patch extending all 

 the way to corner of mouth; 2 or 3 scales on upper part of opercle; 

 body compressed; lower lip with a broad fold of tissue on the side; 

 dorsal profile of head steep, almost vertical in adults, convex; inter- 

 orbital space strongly convex; front of head with fleshy keel; nostrils 

 minute, anterior one a minute tube; jaws equal; a pair of enlarged 

 canines at front of both jaws, these nearly vertical and curving out- 

 ward a little; when mouth is closed the lower pair of canines fits 

 between the upper pair; each jaw with an outer enlarged row of conical 

 teeth and a narrow band of teeth anteriorly inside the outer row; 

 gill membrane free from isthmus with a broad free fold across isthmus; 

 posterior edge of preopercle free posteriorly and nearly as much 

 ventrally; bases of all fins except caudal naked. 



H. copei Fowler was described through error from Oahu, but Fowler 

 (Mem. Bishop Mus. vol. 10. p. 366) refers it as a synonym of Xyrichthys 

 psittacus (Linnaeus) of the western Atlantic. 



Counts are recorded in table 97 for the species of Hemipteronotus 

 and Xyrichthys. 



