604 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 



ff. Posterior canines wanting or reduced to a slight rudiment. 



PSEUDOJULIS, 18. 



dd. Dorsal spines 8; no posterior canines; anterior canines |, normal in 

 position ; low sheath of scales at base of dorsal ; dorsal 



spines pungent Thalassoma, 19. 



II. Lateral line interrupted posteriorly, beginning again on the level of the axis of 



the body, on the caudal peduncle. 

 g. Scales large, 20 to 30 in the lateral line ; dorsal spines 9. 

 h. Posterior canine present ; snout slender, the anterior profile not 

 convex ; cheeks and opercles scaly ; dorsal spines pungent, 

 the three anterior longer and with filamentous appendages; 

 dorsal and anal with a scaly sheath ; scales very large. 



DORATONOTUS, 20. 



hh. Posterior canine none ; anterior profile more or less convex ; 

 head naked except usually afewscalesbelowtheeye ; canines 

 usually | ; body more or less strongly compressed. 

 i. Scales very large, about 20 iu the lateral line, which is placed 

 on the first row of large scales below the dorsal sheath ; an- 

 terior dorsal spines not detached Xyrula, 21. 



ii. Scales large, about 26 in the lateral line, which is placed on the 



second row of large scales below the dorsal sheath. 



j. First two dorsal spines joined by membrane to the others and 



inserted nearly above base of pectorals . .. Xyrichthys, 22. 



jj. First two dorsal spines detached from the others and inserted 



on or close behind the occiput Iniistius, 23. 



Subfamily E.-MALAPTEEINJE. 



(Labroid fishes with the dorsal spines scarcely developed, similar to 



the soft rays, and in very small number. Species of the South Temper. 



ate Zone.) 



«. Body rather elongate ; cheeks scaly; opercles with small scales above and with 

 a row of large scales along posterior border ; preopercle entire ; teeth in one series ; 

 no posterior canine; lateral line continuous; dorsal and anal spines scarcely 

 different from the soft rays. D. Ill, 29; A. II, 19 Malapterus, 24. 



Subfamily F.-SOARINJE'. 



Labroid fishes with the lower pharyngeals concave, covered with 

 flattish or tesselated teeth, which are transversely oblong and com- 

 pressed, not conical ; teeth in jaws more or less coalescent. Scales 

 large ; vertebrae about 25. Fishes of moderate or large size, all tropi- 

 cal, mostly of brilliant coloration, the sexes similar. (Parrot fishes.) 



a. Lower pharyngeals 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 cheeks in one 

 row ; lower jaw projecting. 

 b. Dorsal spines flexible ; teeth more or less distinct, at least anteriorly, 

 c. Teeth in both jaws in few series, not imbricated in quincunx; lateral teeth of 

 both jaws coalescent in a more or less continuous cutting edge; the teeth 

 more free anteriorly and not adnate to the dental plate . . Cryptotomus, 25. 



