144 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



side of the nape. A profusion of small blue spots cover the top and sides of the 

 head, one above the eye and one behind it being larger than the others. A series 

 of spots form a distinct line below the eye, extending forward on the preorbital. A 

 blue spot surrounds the nostril. The tip of the snout, the anterior (lower) edge of 

 the preorbital, the angle of the mouth and the mandible are blue. There is a very 

 narrow bhie margin to the spinous dorsal and to the anterior half of the anal fin. A 

 large blue spot on upper margin of eye-ball. 



In older specimens, the conspicuous blue spots and streaks have largely 

 vanished, but the smaller blue spots on sides of head may remain in specimens 25 

 cm. long. The blue spot on the upper edge of the eye-ball persists in all our 

 specimens. 



The ground color varies with the color of the bottom, adults from sand or 

 coral being light gray in tint {M. cinereus), while others are blackish or slaty blue. 



Family LA BRIDGE. 



268. Harpe diplotaenia Gill. 

 Abundant among the islands in Panama Bay. 



269. Halichgeres sellifer Gilbert. 



Two specimens were secured, 19 and 24 cm. long. They agree in most details 

 with the descrijjtion given of the type, the single specimen heretofore known. In 

 both Panama specimens, however, the outer caudal rays are shorter than the middle 

 rays, the posterior margin of the fin being gently convex, even when the fin is 

 spread. In the type, 29 cm. long, the caudal was found to be "truncate or slightly 

 emarginate, the outer rays scarcely produced." The outer caudal rays doubtless 

 become longer with increasing age, as in many of the Labridse. The outer ventral 

 rays are also shorter in our specimens, where they are less than twice the length of 

 the inner rays, and fail to reach the vent. This also may depend upon the age of 

 the specimens. 



In the Panama specimens, the head is contained 3| to 3^^ in the length; the 

 depth 3 to 3J. The depth of the caudal peduncle is 1| to 1| in the length of the 

 head. The snout 2| or 2,V in the head. 



The dorsal fin contains 9 spines and 11 rays, the anal fin 3 spines and 12 

 rays in each specimen. The first anal spine is greatly reduced and concealed in 

 the membrane, and might easily give occasion to a statement that but 2 spines were 

 present. 



The colors were essentially as in the type of the species, but were somewhat 

 less brilliant, the bright red of the sides being here of a duller brownish red tint. 

 Following is a description of the coloration of our smaller specimen. 



In life, each scale has a basal band of bright blue, the scales otherwise 

 brownish, margined on all sides (including the base) with light yellow or olive. 



