*{73] REVIEW OP THE LABROID FISHES. 671 



zz. Posterior canines 2 to 4 on each side. 



I. Caudal fiu. without black iu the adult; one or two more or less 



distinct whitish bars across the chin. 

 m. Canines 2 or 3 on each side ; axillary region extensively deep 

 blue in life, this forming a large blotch around and 

 on base of pectoral ; a curved series of small white 

 specks around the blue on base of pectoral ; body deep 

 and robust ; fins all mottled, the anal with three darker 

 areas; body with three faint pale lengthwise streaks, 

 more or less obscure ; two of these bound a more or 

 less interrupted dusky band from eye to base of caudal. 



HOPLOMYSTAX, 97. 



mm. Canines 4 (rarely 3) on each side radiating horizontally ; 

 axil with little or no blue, but with a dusky blotch 

 partly hidden by the fin ; front steeper and less curved 

 than in hoplomystax ; body and fins mottled, but much 

 less so than in the preceding ; a distinct narrow streak 

 of blue downward and forward from eye; caudal 

 nearly plain, dusky olive ; anal mottled.. Radians, 98. 



II. Caudal fin with more or less of black on posterior margin, yel- 



lowish at base ; anal light bluish and reddish ; its tip 

 dusky ; canines strong, 4 (rarely 3) on each side; 4 or 

 5 scales on cheeks. Color olive green above, mottled 

 and speckled with red ; snout with blue lines ; a blue 

 band around lower jaw ; axil and base of pectoral 

 deep blue-black ; fins mostly light orange and yellow. 



Xystrodon, 99. 



84. SPARISOMA CRETENSE. 



Scarus CSuapos) of the ancients. 



Labrus ex purpureo viridi cceraleo et nigro varius Artedi, Synonomia, 55, 1738. 



Labrus tetraodon virescens, cauda bifurca Artedi, Syn.,57. 



Labrus cretensis Linmeus, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, 1758,282 (after Artedi, 57) (and of the 



copyists). 

 Scarus cretensis Cuv. & Val., xiv, 164, pi. 400, 1839; Gunther, iv., 209, and of most 



recent authors. 

 Labrus varius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, 282, 1758 (after Artedi Syn., 55). 

 Labrus xantherythrus Rafinesque, Caratteri,etc, 1810,40. 

 Scarus rubiginosus Cuv. & Val., xiv, 171, 1839. 

 Scarus mutabilis Lowe, "Trans. Zool. Soc, ii, 187." 

 Scarus canariensis Valenciennes, " Webb & Berthelot, Ichth. lies Canaries, pi. 17, 



f. 2." (Canary Islands). 

 Scarus siculus Cocco, (fide Bonaparte). 



Habitat — Mediterranean Sea and neighboring islands. 



Etymology: Cretensis, living in Crete. 



This species, the original Scarus of the ancients and the only Scaroid 

 fish found in European waters, is rather rare in the Mediterranean Sea. 

 Our specimen was sent from Palermo by Dr. Pietro Doderlein. 



85. SPARISOMA STRIGATUM. 



Scarus strigatus Gunther, iv, 212, 1862 (locality unknown). 

 Habitat. — Unknown. 

 Etymology : Strigatus, striped. 



