94. LABRIDiE — XYEICHTHYS. 
605 
321. — XITKICHTISYS Cuvier & Valenciennes. 
Razor -fishes. 
(Cut. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xiv, 33, 1839: type CorypUwna novacula L.) 
Body oblong, compressed, deepest behind the occiput, thence tapering 
backward. Ilead very short and deep; the profile almost vertical; the 
upper and anterior outlines compressed to an edge, at least in typical 
species. Preorbital very deep. Eyes high, near the top of the head. 
Mouth small, low. Ko posterior canines. Cheeks and opercles naked, 
or with only a few very small scales below the eye. Scales large, with 
membranaceous edges; less than thirty in a longitudinal series; lateral 
line interrupted behind, commencing again lower down on the caudal 
lieduncle. Dorsal fin continuous, with nine spines. Colors brilliant. 
Tropical seas. razor; fish.) 
951. X. vermicHlatiis Poey. 
Head greenish, tinged with orange on the side; seven or eight blue 
stripes along the cheeks; three on the opercles; body brownish, paler 
below; each scale with a blue vertical baud and sometimes some blue 
spots; toward the end of the pectoral is a broad violet band on the 
sides; dorsal and anal carmine-red with blue vertical lines, paler on the 
front of the dorsal; caudal blue, with vermilion bands; pectorals white; 
ventrals rosy. Head very short, deeper than long, the front coinj)ressed, 
sharp, almost vertical. Preorbital very deep, its depth half the length 
of the head. Eye small, placed very high, its distance from the profile 
scarcely greater than its diameter; four small scales below the eye. 
Two canines in front of each jaw. Dorsal spines low, flexible; ven- 
trals rather long; j)ect orals short. Head 4; depth 3^. D. IX, 12; A. 
Ill, 11; scales 2-27-8. West Indies, north to Key West, Fla.; very 
similar to the European X. novacula (L.) Cuv. & Yak, if not identical 
with it. 
(Poey Memorias Cuba, ii, 215, 1858.) 
953. X. liiicatus Cuv. & Val. — Eazor-fish. 
- • 
Eose-red; a large oblong blotch on each side of the belly, below the 
pectorals; narrow lines descend from these blotches, meeting on the 
belly. The two anterior dorsal spines flexible, not produced. Outer 
ventral ray prolonged, not reaching vent. D. IX, 12; A. HI, 12; Lat. 
1. 25. (OUnther.) West Indies; occasional on our Southern coasts. 
(Cuvier & Valenciennes, xiv, 50, 1839: Novacula lineata Gunther, iv, 171.) 
