128 BULLETIN 214, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



I have studied 20 specimens from the following localities: Tortugas 

 Island, Florida; Cuba; Curacao; Panama; Bahia, Brazil; and Bermuda. 

 In addition, 22 specimens from New Providence Island, Bahamas, 

 were loaned by Dr. Bohlke. 



Genus Nicholsina Fowler 



Nicholsina Fowler, Copeia, No. 14, p. 3, 1915 (genotype: Cryptotomus beryllinus 



Jordan and Swain). 

 Xenoscarus Evermann and Radcliffe, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 95, p. 129, 1917 



(genotype; Xenoscarus denticulahis Evermann and Radcliffe.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THE GENUS NICHOLSINA 



la. Pectoral fin base same color as body, without dark spot; distal edge of 

 caudal fin not white edged; plate 25, d. (Western tropical Atlantic.) 



ustus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 

 16. Pectoral fin base dark, distal edge of caudal broadly white edged in young; 

 plate 26,B,c. (Eastern tropical Pacific.) 



denticulatus (Evermann and Radcliffe) 



This genus is characterized by having the gill membranes with a 

 narrow free fold across the isthmus, flexible dorsal spines, 4 median 

 predorsal scales, 1 row of scales on cheek; ii,ll pectoral rays; external 

 incisorlike teeth at front of both jaws; these teeth curve so as almost 

 to oppose each other; dermal flap on anterior nostril simple, usually 

 not reaching posterior nasal opening; canine teeth may occur at sides 

 of upper jaw on immature as well as on adults, but more often on 

 latter. 



The statements by authors that C. ustus may be distinguished from 

 C. auropunctatus does not appear to be true, thus they have been 

 considered as a single species. 



Nicholsina ustus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



Plate 25, d 



Callyodon ustus Cuvier and Valenciennes, Histoire naturelle des poissons, vol. 14, 



p. 286, pi. 405, 1839 (type locality: Brazil; types examined in Mus. Nat. Hist. 



Nat. Paris, Cat. Nos. 2195, A 9290, a dried specimen, and 2194, in bad 



condition). 

 Callyodon auropunctatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, Histoire naturelle des poissons, 



vol. 14, p. 290, 1839 (type locality: St. Domingo; type examined in Mus. 



Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris, Cat. Nos. 2192 and 2193, both in very bad condition, 



no color). 

 ? Scarus dentiens Poey, Memorias . . ., vol. 2, p. 422, 1861 (type locality: Cuba). 

 Cryptotomus beryllinus Jordan and Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 7, p. 101, 



1884 (type locality: Key West, Florida; Havana; holotype USNM 35097 and 



paratype 35162). — Jordan and Evermann, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 47, pt. 4, 



pi. 242, fig. 608, 1900. 

 ? Calliodon retractus Poey, Synopsis piscium cubensium, p. 345, 1868 (type 



locality: Cuba). 



