148 



LABRIDCE. 



" Body oblong or elongate, covered witli cycloid 

 scales. The lateral line extends to the caudal, or is 

 interrupted. One dorsal fin, with the spinous portion 

 as well developed as, or more, than the soft ; the soft 

 anal similar to the soft dorsal. Ventral fins thoracic, 

 with no spine and five short rays. Palate without 

 teeth ; only one lower pharyngeal line without me- 

 dium suture. Branchiostegals, five or six; gills, 

 three and a-half; pseudobranchige and air-bladder 

 present. Pyloric appendages none; stomach with- 

 out csecal sac. 



" Marine fishes, inhabiting the seas of the tem- 

 perate and tropical regions." 



LABEICHTHTS. 



These fish were separated from Labrus by Dr. Bleeker. The 

 sorts are numerous in the Australian waters, and most are 

 remarkable for the beauty of their colours. Not being generally 

 considered as good for food, it is very seldom that the fishermen 

 send them to the market. The only three sorts I have, up to this 

 time, observed, appear to be new, or, at least, none of the descrip- 

 tions given by Cuvier, Richardson, or Dr. Grunther can apply to 

 either. The Parrot Msh, as those Labridce are commonly called, 

 only appear in the warm months of the year ; the first I saw was 

 at the end of September. It is probable that the Labrus Gypri- 

 naceus (White, New South Wales, p. 264, pi. 51, fig. 1,) belongs 

 to this genus. 



LABEICHTHTS BLEEKEEI. 



{Parrot Fish.) 

 The teeth are on a double line, particularly at the upper jaw. 

 This would exclude these fish from Labrichthys, as Dr. Grunther, 

 in the synopsis of the genera of Labridce, gives to this genus, for a 



