Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1285 



ately forked, the upper lobe longer, its length scarcely twice that of 

 middle rays, which are 2f in head; pectorals long, reaching to origin of 

 anal, \\ in head; ventrals If in head. Color dusky gray, slightly paler 

 below; tips of spinous dorsal and ventrals jet black, the fins otherwise 

 colored as the body; posterior edge of caudal dusky; lining of gill cavity, 

 peritoneum, and posterior part of mouth jet black. West Indies, very 

 rarely taken in deep water off the coast of Cuba. It has never been seen 

 elsewhere. The specimen above described was obtained in Havana, (sor- 

 didns, sordid, from the dull color, in contrast with the brightness of Etelis 

 oculatiis.} 



Verilus sordidus, POEY, Memorias, II, 125, pi. 12, fig. 6, 1860, Cuba; POET, Repertorio, n, 

 157, 1867; POEY, Synopsis, 291, 1868; POEY, Enumeratio, 32, 1875; JORDAN & FESLEB, 

 1. c., 458. 



533. XENOCYS, Jordan & Bollman. 



Xenocys, JORDAN & BOLLMAN, Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mua. 1889, 160 (jessice). 



This genus is closely related to Xenistius, from which it differs chiefly in 

 having the dorsal fins entirely separated, the spinous part of 9 spines, 

 its base containing that of soft dorsal 1 times; nostrils smaller and closer 

 together than in Xenistius ; teeth smaller; the fins more densely scaled 

 and the occipital crest lower. The single species inhabits rocky shores in 

 the eastern Pacific and is a fish of remarkably graceful form. (eVoS, 

 strange; &? / t>, swift.) 



1657. XENOCYS JESSIE, Jordan & Bollman. 



HeadSi; depth 3f. D. X-I, 13 or 14; A. Ill, 10 or 11; scales 8-51-15. 

 Body narrowly but regularly elliptical, compressed; back little elevated; 

 mouth rather large, somewhat oblique; lower jaw somewhat projecting; 

 maxillary rather broad, reaching nearly to middle of pupil, 2f in head; 

 eye large, its diameter greatest obliquely downward and backward, equal 

 to snout, 3if in head; longitudinal diameter shorter than snout, 3f in head ; 

 preorbital rather narrow, its narrowest place 2$ in eye, its edge entire, 

 sheathing the edge of the maxillary for its whole length. Teeth very 

 small, bands wider than in XenisUu8 calif orniensis, those on vomer in a 

 A-shaped patch, but very small. Nostrils minute, close together, the 

 .interior round, the posterior oblong. Serrse of preopercle at angle blunt, 

 rather flat, none below, those on ascending limb smaller and sharper. 

 Gill rakers long and slender, about 23 below angle. Opercle without 

 spines. Cheeks and top of head with small scales; lower jaw and snout 

 with rudimentary scales; maxillary naked; scales small, firm, ctenoid. 

 Dorsal fins entirely separate, the interval between them about diameter 

 of eye; dorsal spines rather high, slender, and pungent; the first short, 

 the third and fourth of equal length, 2 in head, reaching when depressed 

 to the tip of eighth ; the second in third ; soft dorsal longer than anal, 

 its base about \ of an eye's diameter shorter than that of spinous dorsal; 

 second anal spine noticeably shorter than third, which is almost 4 in head; 



