EEVIEW OF THE SERRANID^. 
377 
We revert to our first opinion, ami to the earlier opinion of Dr. Gill, that the name 
Bodianus should be used for this genus. 
The name is a latinization of a Portuguese name of Harpe rtifa, and the latter 
species, under the name of Bodianus bodiamos, was included by Bloch among the 
original types of the genus Bodianus, it being wrongly supposed by Bloch to agree 
with other species referred to Bodianus in having an opercular spine and an entire 
preopercle. 
Cuvier separated Harpe rufa from the others, retaining the name Bodianus for the 
Serranoids only, these agreeing more or less closely with the definition of Bloch. 
Gill later restricted the name to the nine-spined allies of Epinephelus, his Bodianus 
corresponding to the use of the word in this paper. Later he transferred the name to 
Harpe rufa, dividing the group he had formerly called Bodianus into Enneacentrus 
and Petrometopon. 
It seems to us that the restriction of Bodianus, made by Cuvier and Gill, by which 
the Labridw were omitted from the genus is legitimate, and as it has priority over 
other arrangements we may accept it. 
The investigations of Professor Peters on the types of Bloch show that Cephalo- 
phoUs argus Bloch & Schneider is identical with Bodianus guttatus Bloch, and that 
the species in question has really but nine spines in its dorsal, as is shown in the fig- 
ures both of Schneider and Bloch. Cephalopholis is therefore a strict synonym of 
Enneacentrus, and should be adopted unless Bodianus is substituted for both of them. 
Three well-marked groups or subgenera are included among our species of Bodia- 
nus. We can not tell what value these groups may have without examining a much 
larger series of species than has yet been in our hands. Of our species, fulvus, the type 
of Enneacentrus, has the iuterorbital area channeled, its bones thin and smooth, while 
cruentatus, the type of Petrometopon Gill, has this area narrow and transversely con- 
vex, the bones hard and thickened. 
The skulls of the other species have not been examined, but tmniops and dubius 
will probably be found to agree \Yith. fulvus, aud panamensis with cruentatus. 
Somewhat allied to Bodianus is the Asiatic genus Variola Swaiuson (=UriphcB- 
ton Swainsou = Phccthonichthys Bleeker, Pseudoserranus Kluuzinger) ; type Serranus 
luti or louti. 
In Variola the soft dorsal, anal, and caudal are drawn out in long streamers, the 
canines are very strong, and there is a strong lateral canine on each side of the lower 
jaw, besides those in front. The crauium above resembles that of the Serranince, the 
smooth area of the vertex being large, the crests low. This genus is in some degree 
intermediate between the Epinephelince and Serranus. 
ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN SPECIES OF BODIANUS. 
a. Caudal fiu rounded or subtruucate. 
6. Sides with nine or ten dark cross-bands ; sides of head and jaws with many round bluish or yellow- 
ish spots ; a large jet-black spot behind eye ; vertical tins edged with blue ; lower 
jaw much piojectiug ; preopercle very finely serrulate, its angle not salient; scales 
rather large (lat. 1. about 80) ; second anal spine longest; caudal much rounded. 
Panamensis, 57. 
