656 PHOCEEDTNGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv. 
Family III. SCARID^. 
THE PARROT FISHES. 
Body oblong, moderately compressed, covered with large cycloid 
scales as in the Labridse. Mouth moderate, terminal. Teeth in the 
jaws more or less coalescent, at least at base; lower pharj-ngeals much 
enlarged, vmited in a concave or spoon-shaped body, their teeth broad- 
est transversely and truncate, arranged in mosaic; dorsal continuous, 
its formula usually IX, 10; anal rays II, 9; :23 to 25 scales in the lat- 
eral line; vertebroe about 11+14=25. Sexes similarly colored, the 
coloration almost alwavs brilliant; tin rays essential!}^ the same 
throughout the group, the squamation varjdng little except on the 
head. Species of the tropical seas, especiall}^ abundant about coral 
reefs. Herbivorous fishes, often of large size, not valued as food, the 
flesh being soft and pasty. The species in the various genera are very 
closely related, being distinguished chiefl}" by the coloration and the 
dentition, both series of characters being highly specialized. We begin 
the group with the most generalized genus, the one nearest the Labroid 
ancestors of the ScaridcB. 
Sparisomatin.e: 
a. Lower pharyngeal broader than long, flattish or basin-shaped; gill membranes 
broadly joined to the isthmus, not forming a fold across it; lateral line sub- 
continuous; scales about head few and large, those on the cheek in 1 row; 
lower jaw projecting; teeth whitish or rosy. 
h. Dorsal spines flexible; teeth more or less distinct, at least anteriorly, 
c. Teeth in each jaw in 3 or 4 series, all imbricated in quincunx order on the 
dental plate, to which they are adnate by the posterior face; cutting edge 
of each jaw formed by teeth Caloiomvs, 25. 
SCAKIN.E : 
aa. Lower pharyngeal sj^oon-shaped, much longer than broad; teeth of jaws fully 
coalesced, each jaw divided In- a distinct median suture; gill membranes 
forming a fold across the isthmus; dorsal spines flexible; lateral line inter- 
rupted behind, beginning again lower down on the peduncle of the tail; 
scales about head rather numerous, those on cheeks in 2 or more series. 
Scorns, 26. 
2S. CALOTOMUS Gilbert. 
Calotomus Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1890, p. 70 {xenodon). 
Teeth distinct, equal, imbricated in regular oblique rows in both 
jaws, wholly concealing the dental plates, to the anterior edge of which 
they are affixed. Cutting edge of each jaw formed by the outer teeth, 
the dental plate not reaching the edge, and visible only from within. 
Lips double for a short distance only. Scales of cheek in one row; 
lateral line continuous; bases of dorsal and anal with scaly sheaths; 
dorsal spines 9, soft and flexible; gill membranes broadly joined to the 
isthmus. Large species of the Pacific, allied to Oryjptotoinns [Callyo- 
