DESCRIPTION OF A NEV/ SPECIES OF XYRICHTHYS (XYRICH- 

 THYS JESSIiE) FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. 



By OAVID t^TARR JORDAIV. 



Xyiichthys jessiee, sp. nov. (No. 39420, U. S. N.if. Muf<.). 



lloiid, IV^ ill length to base of caudal; greatest depth. 3}. D. IX, 12. 

 A. (probably) III, 12. Scales, about ^-20-7. Length of typical exam- 

 ple, (i'l inches. 



Body oblong, rather more elongate and rather less compressed than in 

 X. novacula {=X. psittacus, lineatus, vermiculatus, and venustus). Head 

 rather less deep and less trenchant anteriorly and suiieriorly than in 

 A', novacula ; its anterior outline boldly convex rather than parabolic. 

 Depth of preorbital from eye to angle of mouth, 2^ iu head (21, In A'. 

 novacula). Cleft of mouth, 4i in head ; anterior incisors strong, |, asiu 

 X. novacula. Eye moderate, 4^ iu head. No trace of scales on cheeks; 

 length of cheek a little more than half its height (much less than half 

 iu A. novacula). Scales very large, much larger thau in any other of 

 our labroid fishes, the lateral line running along the back ou the first 

 complete series of scales. Owing to the injuries which the specimen 

 has received the number of scales can not be exactly counted. It is, 

 however, apparently 20 or 21. Between the sixth spiue and. the seventh 

 soft ray of the dorsal S scales remain. In the same distance on A'. 

 7iovacula there are 11 scales, the total number iu the lateral line being 

 about 27. The fins are all injured by the digestive process, and are uot 

 evidently different from similar ]>arts in A', novacula. The jjorsal spines 

 seem rather more sleuder ; the anterior si)ines not produced; the soft 

 rays of the ventrals filamentous. 



Color in life, uniform scarlet-red ; the sides more yellowish; no blue 

 spots or lines anywhere. 



The type of this interesting species was obtained by INIr. Charles H. 

 Bollman from the stomach of some large Grouper {Ccrnaov Epinephclus) 

 off' Tampa Bay, Fioiidai. It is in rather bad condition on account of 

 having been partly digested. I have named it for my wife, Mrs. Jessie 

 Knight Jordan. 



(Profocdings U. S. National Muscut], Vo'. X.) 

 G98 



