[53] REVIEW OF THE LABROID FISHES. 651 



aud tbere is a slight scaly sheath along the base of the dorsal, as in 

 Platyglossus. The anal spines are very slender. In Thalassoma purpu- 

 reum, the type of the genus, and in all other East Indian species exam- 

 ined by us, the anal spines are two in number, but in all the American 

 species which we have seen there are three. In this case the third spine 

 is slender, resembling the soft rays. Should this character prove con- 

 stant the American species may form a distinct subgenus, for which the 

 name Ghlorichthys should be retained. In Thalassoma pavo two anal 

 spines are counted by Gunther, but this character needs verification. 

 The name Thalassoma was given by Swainson to a group typified by T. 

 purpureum, and supposed by Swainson to be allied to Xyrichthys, from 

 which it was distinguished by the form of the head and the position of 

 the eyes. It is, however, the oldest tenable name given to this group, 

 and must be retained, unless these related genera be reunited with 

 Halichoeres. 



The name Julis, commonly used for this group, was first given by 

 Olivier especially to the Mediterranean species, Labrus julis. Other 

 species were included with this, but by Swainson all these were re- 

 moved, leaving Labrus jails as the type of Julis. 



Of the American species of Thalassoma two (nitidum and steindach- 

 neri) we have not seen. The characters given below are therefore in 

 part in need of verification. 



ANALYSIS OP AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SPECIES OF THALASSOMA. 



a. Caudal fin slightly lunate in the adult, truncate in the young. 

 b. Body bicolor, the upper half blackish, the lower pale ; body slender, the depth 

 about 4 in length; ventrals shorter than pectorals, not filamentous; 

 upper half of body dark purplish, the lower half abruptly rosy, the 

 dark color of back becoming gradually deeper downward, this form- 

 ing a broad blackish lateral band, the edge of which curves upward 

 at base of caudal ; a faint brown streak below the dark ; middle line 

 of back black; head black, with two streaks downward and forward 

 from eye ; dorsal dark, with whitish margin ; anal brownish, distal 

 half pale; caudal yellowish, with two purple lougitudinal bands ex- 

 tending up on the longest rays; axil with a purple dot; tip of pect- 

 oral dark ; six small scales before dorsal Lucasanum, 58. 



bb. Body not bicolor. 



c. Body rather deep, the depth 3 to 3£ in length, equal to length of head; nape 

 scaled on median line; 8 or 9 scales before dorsal ; ventrals short, 

 the outer rays not produced; interopercles meeting below throat; 

 scales 27. D.,VIII, 13; A., Ill, 11; color deep brown, each scale on 

 sides with a vertical bluish bar at base and margined with pale blue; 

 sides of head thickly covered with blue spots and broken lines, those 

 on cheek radiating from eye ; dorsal and anal purplish, a submar- 

 ginalpale streak and a narrow white margin ; a black blotch on front 

 of spinous dorsal; caudal brown, the outer rays tipped with black, 

 pectorals and ventrals purplish at base with yellowish distal portion ; 

 dorsal spines, strong Socorroense, 59. 



cc. [Body slender, compressed, the depth about 4 in length ; ventrals much shorter 

 than pectorals; top of head aud back brilliant yellow, this color ex- 

 tending on sides of head and to ventrals ; a large yellow blotch on 



