612 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSFAJM. vol.xxiv. 
Japan from numerous young examples taken by us in the rock pools 
of Misaki and the neighboring points of Yogashima and Enoshima. 
These specimens agree with others from Formosa and Hawaii. The 
large black blotch behind the soft dorsal is always present. 
{sordidus^ mean-looking.) 
Family 11. LABRID^E. 
THE WRASSE-FISHES. 
Body oblong or elongate, covered with cycloid scales; lateral line 
well developed, continuous or interrupted, often angularly bent. 
Mouth moderate, terminal; premaxillaries protractile; maxillaries 
without supplemental bone, slipping under membranaceous edge of the 
preorbital; anterior teeth in the jaws usually very strong and canine- 
like; teeth of the jaws separate or soldered together at base, not form- 
ing a continuous plate; no teeth on vomer or palatines; lower pharyn- 
geals completely united into one bone, without median suture, this 
bone T-shaped or Y-shaped, its teeth conical or tubercular. Lips thick, 
longitudinally plicate. Nostrils round, with 2 openings on each side. 
Dorsal tin continuous, the spinous portion usually long, its spines 
rather slender, 3 to 20 in number, anal similar to soft dorsal, with 2 to 
6 spines. Ventrals thoracic 1, 5, inserted below the pectorals or 
slightly in advance of them. Branch iostegals 5 or 6; pseudo branchiae 
well developed; gills 3i, the slit behind the last arch small or obsolete; 
gill membranes somewhat connected, sometimes joined to the narrow 
isthmus. Air bladder present; no pyloric cfeca. Species chiefl}^ of 
the tropical seas, living among rocks, coral reefs, or kelp. Many of 
them are brilliantly colored, and some are valued as food tish. Most 
of them feed upon mollusks, the dentition being adapted for crushing 
shells. 
a. Dorsal spines 8 to 13 in number, anal spines 2 or 3; vertebrpe less than 30 in num- 
ber; species of tropical or subtropical seas. 
b. Lateral line continuous, bent abruptly posteriorly, but not interrupted. 
c. Bodianina:. Dorsal spines 12 or 13. Cheeks and opercles more or less scaly; 
preopercle usually with fine serrature. 
d. Dorsal rays XIII, 7; lateral teeth of jaws more or less confluent into a 
blunt edged bony ridge; preorbital very high; posterior canine tooth 
present; base of dorsal with a scaly sheath Chcerops, 6. 
dd. Dorsal rays usually XII, 10. 
e. Posterior canine present; base of dorsal with a scaly sheath; soft dorsal 
and anal not falcate; scales in lateral line 30 to 40. 
/. Lateral teeth in jaws in one series; close set or confluent, forming a 
serrated edge Lepidaplois, 7. 
ff. Lateral teeth in jaws of two series, the inner close set or confluent, the 
outer conical and canine-like Verreo, 8. 
ee. Posterior canine wanting; base of dorsal and anal without scaly sheath; 
dorsal and anal not falcate; scales in lateral line 45 to 50. 
iSemicuiisyj)hus, 9. 
