86. SEKRANID^ EIIYPTICUS, 
543 
279.— RHYPTICUS Cuvier. 
Soap-Jishes. 
';Cuvier, Eegne Auim. ii, 1829: type Antldas saxjonaceus Blocli & Schneider.) 
Body oblong , compressed, covered with small, smooth embedded scales. 
Mouth oblique, rather large, the lower jaw prominent, the maxillary 
with a supplemental bone, reachiug to or beyond the pupil j preorbital 
rather narrow; no canines; broad bands of villiform teeth on jaws, 
vomer, and palatines. Preopercle crescent- shaped, without angle or 
serratures, its margin with spinous teeth above. Opercle with spines. 
Dorsal fin with two or three low stout spines, sometimes separated by 
a notch from the soft rays ; anal fin without spine, or with an embedded 
rudiment; caudal fin rounded behind. Ventrals small. Pectorals short 
and rounded. Tropical seas, {por.-ixoq^ washing; from the ‘‘soapy” 
skin.) 
a. Dorsal spines 2, more or less connected with the soft rays. {Promicropterus* Gill.) 
8^75. R. inaciilatiis Holhr. 
Olive brown above, with scattered whitish spots; below pale slate 
color. Back regularly arched from snout to caudal fin. Mouth large, 
maxillary extending beyond orbit; lower jaw longer than upper, and 
projecting much beyond it in closed mouth. Preopercle with 2 stout 
sitiues; opercle with 3. Pectorals rather large. Vertical fins high. 
Dorsal spines slightly connected with the soft rays. Head 3J; depth 3. 
D. II, 25; A. 15. North Carolina to the West Indies. 
(Holbrook, Ich. S. C. 18G0, 42; Gunther, i, 179.) 
856. R. decorafns (Gill) J. G. 
Brownish, irregularly maculai ed with light spots about as large as 
the pupil, these generally with a blackish centre; the siiots are some- 
times confluent and are most numerous on the sides. Eye equal snout, 
5J iu length of head. Head 3; depth 3J. D. II, 26; A. 16. Tropical 
seas; accidental at Newport, B. I. {Gill.) 
{Promicropterus decoratus Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. ScL Phila. 1863, 164. 
857. R. pitiiatosus Goode & Beau. 
Very light brown, with numerous small brown spots; the diameter of 
the largest, one-third that of eye; these absent on abdomen and throat; 
traces of light margins to the vertical fins. Upper jaw nearly reaching 
* Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 53 : type Ehypticiia maculatua Holhr. 
{Ttpo, before; pixphi, small; Ttrepov, fin.) 
