94. LABEIDJi: — HARPE. GOl 



943. I,, falcatus (L.) C. &. Y.— Hog-fish; Aigrette; Capita'.ne. 



Chiefly red; a jet black spot usually present at base of soft dorsal ; 

 ventrals dusky; clieeks 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. 



(Labrus falcatus L. Syst. Nat. i, 475: Lachnohvnius falcatus, aigula, dux, suillus, 

 caninus, aud jisittacus C. & V. xiii, 277-291; Giinther, iv, b7; Goode, Bull. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus. V, 36, le7().) 



31§.— HARPE Lac^pfede. 



Lady-Jishes. 



(Coseyjilms Cu\. &ya.\.; preoccupied: Trochocopus Gnnther: Pi melometopon Gill.) 



(Lac^p^de, Hist. Nat. Poiss, iv, 426, 1802: type Harpe cocruleo-aurcusIjac.^Lahrus 

 rufas L.) 



Bo<ly oblong, moderately compressed, covered with firm scales of vary- 

 ing size, 25 to CO in the course of the lateral line, which is continuous. 

 Head rather i)ointed 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, preoperc^le 

 naketl; preojiercle minutely serrulate or entire. Jaws each with four 

 strong, conical, somewhat compressed 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 i^ectorals. Gill-membranes slightly connected. Coarse, brightly- 

 colored fishes, inhabiting troi)ical seas, (a/v-ry, scythe; m allusion to the 

 falcate fins.) 



a. Base of dorsal scaly ; scales rather large ; vertical fins with falcate lobes. {Harpe.) 

 94<1. H. rilfa (L.) Gill. — Lady-fish; Doncella. 



Head aud 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. Ui)per lip thick, with conspicuous folds; preoper- 

 culum denticulate. Two outer ventral rays and lobes of soft dorsal, 

 anal and caudal nnicli produced ; the long rays of the dorsal and anal 

 extending to the middle of the median caudal rays, the outer caudal 



