190 BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



a*. Cheilininae. Lateral line interrupted behind, front section concurrent with 

 profile of back, hind or lower section horizontally median along caudal 

 peduncle. 



t^. First 2 dorsal spines not conspicuously removed from 

 third. 

 u 1. Scales large, 20 to 30 in median lateral series. 



v^. Preopercle serrate; dorsal spines 11 Cirrhilabrus. 



V 2. Preopercle entire; dorsal spines 9, rarely 10. 

 wK Jaw teeth uniserial. 

 x^. Upper canines flare out and back; size small. 



Pseudocheilinus. 

 x'. Upper canines not flaring out or back; size mostly 



moderate or large Cheilinus. 



w^. Jaw teeth in several series Novaculichthys. 



u'. Scales small, more than 70 in median lateral series. 



Cymolutes. 

 1 2. First 2 dorsal spines more or less conspicuously removed, 

 not entirely detached; cheek with small scales. 



Hemipteronotus. 



Genus XIPHOCHEILUS Bleeker 



Xiphocheilus Bleeker, Nat. Tijds. Ned. Indie, vol. 12, 1856-57, p. 223. 



Type Xiphocheilus lypus Bleeker, monotypic. 

 Xiphochilus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 4, 1862, p. 98. Type 

 Xiphocheilus typus Bleeker. 

 Body oblong. Head high as long. Snout obtuse. Upper lip 

 thin, sword-shaped, nearly capable of being entirely retracted below 

 preorbital. Mandible slightly protrudes or conspicuous. Anterior 

 canines 4 in each jaw; lateral teeth joined as osseus ridge; hind 

 canine present. Preopercle denticulate. Branchiostegals 6. Scales 

 large, 27 to 29 in lateral line, which continuous. Preopercle limbs 

 naked, cheek scaly. Dorsals and anals without basal scales. Dorsal 

 spines 11 to 13, rays 8 or 9. Anal spines 3, rays 9 or 10. 



Species few, small, and remarkable for the saber-shaped maxillary, 

 producing a peculiar physiognomy. 



XIPHOCHEILUS QUADRIMACULATUS Gunther 



Xiphochilus quadrimaculatus Gunther, Rep. Voy. Challenger, vol. 1, 1880, 

 p. 45, pi. 20, fig. C. Arafura Sea. 



Depth 33^ to 4; head 2J4 to 3, width 2}4 to 2}4. Snout sy^ 

 to 4 in head from upper jaw tip; eye 334 to 4, 1 to 1^ in snout, 

 equals or little greater than interorbital ; maxillary reaches little 

 beyond eye front, 3 1/^ to 33^ in head; interorbital 3^/8 to 4, broadly 

 convex; hind preopercle edge very feebly dentate. Gill rakers 

 6 + 8, lanceolate, short. 



Scales in lateral line 24 + 3 ; 3 scales above lateral line, 6 below, 

 8 or 9 predorsal, which extend forward opposite middle of eye; 3 

 rows of scales on cheek, of which lowest on preopercle flange. Scales 

 with 11 or 12 basal radiating striae, apical 10 to 13; circuli very fine. 



