160 ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS, FISHES JORDAN AND IJOLLMAN. 



oped below augle. Gill-rakers long - and slender, about X + 21. Scales 

 rather small, ctenoid, firm, 3 or 4 rows on cheeks, 2 rows on iuteroper- 

 cle. Jaws, snout, and top of head naked. Opercle with two strong 

 spines, the lower the larger and nearly as long a^ pupil. Lateral line 

 anteriorly rather sharply curved upward, concurrent with the back. 

 No accessory veutral scale. Nostrils very small, round, close together. 

 Dorsal spines high and pungent, hardly flexible, the first half as long 

 as the second, the fifth longest, 1§ in head, reaching tip of eighth when 

 depressed. Dorsal fins very slightly connected by membrane. Soft 

 dorsal 1§ in anal, first ray 2 in head. Caudal deeply forked, as long as 

 head, its inner rays uot quite half as long as outer. First anal spine 

 If in second, which is strongest and equal in length to third; free mar- 

 gin of anal slightly concave, first soft ray 2J in head. Pectorals short, 

 pointed, If to li in head. Ventrals moderate, reaching vent, If iu 

 head. Soft dorsal and anal free from scales; a scaly sheath along base 

 of both dorsals. 



Coloration, bluish above, sides brilliant silvery; soft dorsal with a 

 black oblique bar across its anterior rays; median rays of caudal black, 

 lobes tipped with white, and crossed by two oblique black bars, which 

 are separated by cream-colored bands, which are brightest on inner 

 rays; outer bar largest. In other words, caudal with two 'black and 

 three white cross-bands on each lobe, these convergent backwards ; 

 lower fins pale; axil of pectoral dusky on the inner side. 



In spite of the resemblance of Kuhlia to Xenistius, the former is evi- 

 dently Serranoid, the latter Sparoid in its affinities. 



Several specimens of this beautiful fish were obtained by the Alba- 

 tross at Chatham Island, iu the Galapagos. This species is exceedingly 

 close to the East Indian K. tamiura, scarcely differing from Bleeker's 

 description of the latter except in the smaller size of the eye. 



Xenocys* gen. nov. 



Diagnosis. — Closely allied to Xenistius, Jordan and Gilbert, from 

 which it differs, iu having the dorsal fins entirely separated, the spinous 

 part of nine species, its base containing that of soft dorsal L} times ; 

 nostrils smaller and closer together than in Xenistius; teeth smaller; 

 the fins more densely scaled and the occipital crest lower. 



Type. — Xenocys jesske Jordan and Bollman. 



14. Xenocys jessiae sp. nov. 



Type: No. 41,106, U. S. National Museum. 



Hab. — Charles Island, Galapagos Archipelago. 



Head, 3£ (4£); depth, 3| (4|). D. X-1, 13; A. Ill, 11. Scales, 8-51-15. 

 Length of type, 8£ inches. 



Description. — Body narrowly but regularly elliptical, compressed; 

 back little elevated. Mouth rather large, somewhat oblique; lower jaw 



* $ev6c strange; onvr swift. 



