FAMILY LABRIDAE — SCHULTZ 217 



name of S. casturi, which was based on a drawing and unfortunately 

 is preoccupied. 



Our large series of S. linearis, new species, has a constant color 

 pattern that does not overlap with that of /S. albovittata from the 

 Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. White streaks (3) and (4) 

 are separated by two scale rows in albovittata and by only one in 

 linearis, and white streak (3) in linearis ends just behind the pectoral 

 fin base, but in albovittata it continues to the caudal fin. We cannot 

 agree with Weber and De Beaufort that albovittata and linearis are 

 varieties of the same species, since color differences between them re- 

 main constant. Nor can we find a single specimen among our numer- 

 ous paratypes from the Marshall, Phoenix, Samoan, and Philippine 

 Islands in which there is the slightest indication of overlap in color 

 pattern of white streaks numbers (3) and (4). After careful study 

 of the reef fishes in numerous fish families of the tropical Indo-Pacific 

 fauna, we are convinced that the basic color pattern is of the utmost 

 importance in recognizing species and subspecies of fishes. 



Named linearis in reference to the white lines or streaks that charac- 

 terize this species. 



Genus HEMIGYMNUS Giinther 



Hemigymnus Gunther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 8, p. 386, 1861 (type species, 

 Mullus fasciatus ThunheTg= Labrus fasciatus Bloch). 



The following characters are useful in recognizing this genus: 

 Branched caudal rays 6+6; lateral line pores 19+2+6 to base of 

 caudal fin, usually 5 or 6 rows of scales above lateral line to soft dorsal 

 origin and 11 or 12 below it to anal origin; dorsal rays IX,11; anal 

 111,11, rarely 111,12; pectoral ii,12; gill rakers about 6 to 8 + 1 + 15 to 

 21; body compressed; snout normal; dorsal profile of head convex; 

 interorbital space convex; jaws terminal, equal or nearly so; lips 

 thick, broad, somewhat plicate; lower lip deeply incised at middle; 

 teeth uniserial, except in upper jaw a few teeth in an inner row ante- 

 riorly; a pair of canines at front of each jaw, those of upper jaw widely 

 spaced so that those of lower jaw fit between them when mouth is 

 closed; a broad flattish canine at corner of mouth embedded in fleshy 

 tissues; preopercular margin free posteriorly and nearly an equal 

 distance ventrally; gill membranes attached to isthmus, without a 

 free fold across it. 



The species of Hemigymnus of the Marshall and Marianas Islands 

 are separated by the following key: 

 la. Usually 4 to 6 narrow white bars on sides, alternating with broad black bars; 



gill rakers on first gill arch about 6+1 + 15 or 16-_H. fasciatus (Bloch) 

 16. Head to a little behind pectoral fin base white or pale, thence body blackish, 



except caudal peduncle which is pale; adults with generally brownish 



bodies; gill rakers on first gill arch about 8+1 + 20. 



H. melapterus (Bloch) 



