[15] 



REVIEW OF THE LABROID FISIIES. 613 



cc. Base of pectoral without jet-black spot ; scales on cheek in 5 or 6 rows ; dor- 

 sal spines not much lower than the soft rays. 

 d. Snout of moderate length, 2£ to 2£ in length of head ; serrature on preoper- 

 cle lost with age ; eye small, 5 in head ; usually an obscure 

 dusky blotch above the base of pectoral and another just below 

 middle of base of caudal; coloration quite variable, usually 

 greenish, with longitudinal series of blue or red spots, or both ; 

 sometimes a pale band from head to caudal fin ; vertical fins 

 with blue dots ; pectoral translucent ; three red longitudinal 

 bands sometimes present on sides ; sides of head sometimes 

 with blue dots; head3|; depth 3£; D. XV, 10; A. Ill, 10; 



scales 4-35-10 Tinca, 11. 



dd. [Snout short, about one-third length of head ; eye small, 5 in head ; usually 

 a curved black blotch close behind eye, often extending for- 

 ward around lower jaw; a small dark spot at base of caudal 

 just below lateral line; color purplish green; sides of head 

 red, with green bands, edged with darker ; sides of body with 

 violet stripes, composed of violet and red spots on the scales ; 

 vertical fins green, often with darker spots or ocelli; back and 

 sides sometimes with dusky cross-bands ; body short and deep; 

 head 3^; depth 3£ ; D. XVI, 9; A. Ill, 10 ; scales 4-35-12.] 



(Day) Melops, 12. 



bb. Scaly part of cheeks comparatively narrow, usually not so broad as eye, and 

 provided with two or three (rarely four) rows of scales. 

 x. Opercle without jet-black blotch. 

 e. Form of body oblong, not elliptical ; the depth usually not greater than 

 the length of head, and little if any more than one-third the 

 length of the body. 



/. Spinous dorsal with a black blotch on the anterior spines ; a large inky 

 black blotch (rarely absent) on lower side of base of caudal 

 fin ; a faint brown band along sides from above eye to base of 

 caudal fin ; another from below eye to caudal spot ; usually a 

 narrow brown streak from eye to chin ; body and vertical fins 

 with dark points ; snout 2f in head; eye 4£; head3£; depth 

 3 ; D. XIV, 9 ; A. Ill, 9 ; scales 3-32-9 Cinereus, 13. 



ff. Spinous dorsal without distinct black blotch ; no black spot on lower 

 edge of caudal. 

 g. [Sides without dark lateral band; caudal fin yellow, its tip black or 

 with blackish blotches ; pectoral fin pale, usually with a black 

 spot towards its tip ; color brownish, a curved bluish streak 

 from eye to below lower jaw; eye 3f in head; snout short, 3£ 

 to 4 ; depth about 3£ in length; D. XVI, 10; A. Ill, 9; scales 



3-34-8. ] ( Giinther ; Steindachner) Melanocerctjs, 14. 



gg. Sides with a dark lateral band ; caudal fin plain, its tip without 

 black blotch; pectoral fin without black spot near its tip; 

 scales 3-35-11 ; scaly part of cheek as broad as eye; snout short, 

 about 3 in head ; anterior profile a little concave, especially 

 in adult; cheeks with three (rarely four) series of small 

 scales ; color rose-red ; sides with a very distinct broad brown 

 lateral band from snout through eye to upper part of base of 

 caudal, bordered by silvery above and below, the lower of the 

 silvery stripes from angle of mouth to lower half of base of 

 caudal ; some small black streaks or spots below lateral band, 

 a small black spot usually present on upper base of caudal; 

 vent black; a dusky lengthwise stripe along dorsal fin; body 

 rather elongate ; depth nearly equal to length of head, about 

 3 in body. D. XV, 10 ; A. Ill, 9 ; scales, 3-35-11 Doderleini, 15. 



