102 LABRID^. 



distinctly serrated ; operculum produced into a mernbranaceous flap 

 reaching behind the level of the base of the pectoral ; the first ventral 

 ray twice as long as the second. Light reddish : a large black ocellus 

 edged with yellow on the operculum and behind each of the two first 

 dorsal spines ; cheeks, sides of the body, the upper part of the caudal 

 and the base of the anal dotted. (Pet.) 

 Mozambique. 



2. Pteragogufl tseniops. 



Cossyphus taeniops, Peters in Wief/m. Arch. 1855, p. 262. 

 D. ^. A. ^. L. lat. 25. L. transv. ^- 



11 10 5-0 



The upper profile of the head concave above the eyes ; praeoperciilum 

 distinctly serrated ; operculum produced into a membranaceous flap 

 reaching behind the level of the base of the pectoral ; the first ventral 

 ray twice as long as the second. No ocellus on the operciJum ; a 

 single one beliind the first dorsal spine ; a vertical brown band over 

 the head, through the eye towards the throat ; caudal with transverse 

 series of dark spots. (Pet.) 



Mozambique. 



15. COSSYPHTJS*. 



Cossyphus, sp., Cuv, Sf Val. xiii. p. 102. 



Cossyphus, Cfilnth. Ann. 8f Mag. Nat. Hist. 1861, vol. viii. p. 384. 



Harpe et Lepidaplois, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1862, p. 140. 



Body compressed, oblong, with scales of moderate size ; snout more 

 or less pointed ; imbricate scales on the cheeks and opercles ; vertical 

 fins scaly on their basal portion. Lateral line not inteiTupted. Teeth 

 in the jaws in a single series ; four canine teeth in each jaw ante- 

 riorly; a posterior canine tooth (except in C. gouldii). Formula of the 



fins- D <;i^)ii(iL> A ^ 



nns. u. g jj . A. (io_)i2(-i4)- 



Inhabitants of nearly all the seas between the tropics and of the 

 parts adjoining them. 



The genus as at present circumscribed forms a very natural group, 

 with the exception of C. gouldii, which has eleven dorsal spines only 

 and no posterior canine tooth ; this species, however, is known only 

 from a very large stufltd specimen. 



Our knowledge of C. tredecimspinosus is not much more perfect ; 

 it is so nearly allied to the other species of this genus, that the 

 occurrence of thirteen dorsal spines in the single specimen known 

 does not appear sufficient to justify a generic separation. 



* 1. Cossyphus vulpinus, Richards. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1850, p.71, and Ann. 8f Mag. 

 Nat. Hist. 1851, vii. p. 287.— Australia, (d. J^. A. -^ 

 2. Julis (?) rubecula, Richards. Ann. Sf Mag. Nat. Hist. 1843, xi. p. 423. — 

 Queen Charlotte's Sound. 



