218 ■ LABRID^. 



the presence or absence of pointed teeth near the angle of the mouth, 

 aa diese characters appear to be constant in some species, whilst 

 they certainly are subject to great variations in others. 



Following the synopsis of the species given by Dr. v. Bleeker as 

 oar guide, we may divide the species as follows : — 



A. Jaws whitish or rosy ; upper lip broad, covering more than one-half 



of the upper jaw. 



a. Scales on the cheek in four series, p. 218. 



b. Scales on the cheek in three series, the lower praeopercular limb 



being entirely naked, p. 219. 



c. Scales on the cheek in three series, the scales of the lower series 



covering the prseopercular limb. 



* Snout with gay-coloured streaks running from the mouth to the 



eye, p. 220. 

 •* Snout without longitudinal streaks, p. 227. 



d. Scales on the cheek in two series, p. 2-30. 



(e. Species insufficiently described, but belonging to division A, p. 232.) 



B. Jaws green or blue : upperlipbroad, covering at least one-half of the 



upper jaw, p. 233. 



C. Jaw3 green or blue ; upper lip narrow, covering less than one-half of 



the upper jaw. 



a. Scales on the cheek in three series, the lower praeopercular Kmb 



being entirely naked, p. 235. 



b. Scales on the cheek in three series, the scales of the lower covering 



the praeopercular limb, p. 236. 



c. Scales on the cheek in two series, p. 237. 



(d. Species insufficiently described, but belonging to division C, p. 237.) 



D. Jaws whitish or rosy; upper lip narrow, covering only one-half, or 



less, of the upper jaw, p. 238. 



A. Jaws whitish or rosy ; upper lip broad, covering more than one-half 



of the upper jaw. 



a. Scales on the cheek in four series. 



1. Fseudoscams superlms. 



Parr a, lam. 28. fig. 1 (very good). 



Scarus superbus, Poey, Mem. CM>. ii. p. 218. 



Four series of scales on the cheek, the lowest of which covers the 

 limb of the prseoperculum ; the second composed of seven scales. 

 Caudal snbtmncated, with the angles more or less produced. Teeth 

 very small, scarcely visible. Green (blue), each scale with a brownish 

 centre and margin. A green, red-edged band from the lower margin 

 of the orbit round the lower lip ; chin green ; upper lip red, with a 

 short green cross-band ; a green spot above the upper front angle of 

 the orbit ; two straight bands between the eye and the upper part of 

 the gill-opening. Dorsal fin with a red band, running from the base 

 of the first spine to the tip of the last ray, widening posteriorly ; 



