Jordan and Evermann , Fishes of North A merica . 1613 



scales on cheeks; length of cheek a little more than | its height (much 

 less than \ in X. psittacus). Scales very large, the lateral line running 

 along the back on the first complete series of scales. (Owing to the inju- 

 ries which the specimen has received the number of scales can not be 

 exactly counted. It is, however, apparently 20 or 21.) Between the sixth 

 spine and the seventh soft ray of the dorsal 8 scales remain. In the same 

 distance on X.pnittacns there are 11 scales, the total number in the lateral 

 line being about 27. The fins are all injured by the digestive process, and 

 arc not evidently different from similar parts in X.psittacus. The dorsal 

 spines seem rather more slender, the anterior spines not produced, the 

 soft rays of the ventrals filamentous. Color in life, uniform scarlet red; 

 the sides more yellowish; no blue spots or lines anywhere. Snapper 

 Banks off Tampa Bay, Florida; from the stomach of a large grouper; the 

 typo in rather bad condition on account of having been partly digested. 

 Length of typical example 6f inches. (Named for Mrs. Jessie Knight 

 Jordan.) 



Xyrichthys jessice, JORDAN, Proc. TJ. S.Nat. Mus. 1887, 698, off Tampa Bay. (Type, No. 



39420. Coll. Chas. H. Bollinaii.) 

 Xyrula jessice, JORDAN, Review Labroid Fishes, 656, 1890. 



643. NOVACULICHTHYS, Bleeker. 



Novaculichthys, BLEEKER, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1861, 414 (macrolepidotut) . 

 Dimalacocentrus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 223 (kallosoma) ; "first two dorsal 

 spines more or less detached." 



This genus is very close to Xyrichthys, from which it differs chiefly in 

 having the upper profile of the head more or less obtuse, not cultrate; 

 the preorbital is less elevated than in Xyrichthys, and the first 2 dorsal 

 spines are flexible, sometimes spaced, produced, or otherwise distinguished 

 from the others, but not forming a separate fin ; ventrals sometimes pro- 

 duced ; cheeks naked, or with a few small scales below the eye. Species 

 rather numerous; the group apparently intergrading with Xyrichthys. 

 (novacula, razor; lxvs, fish.) 



a. Two anterior spines of dorsal flexible, sometimes elevated, always different from the 

 remaining spines ; ventral fins much produced in the adult, shorter in the young; 

 a few scales below eye. 



6. Scales 23 or 24; third and fourth spines of dorsal lowest, the spines thence 

 slightly increasing to the last; second spine connected by a membrane with 

 the third; first and second spines elevated, 1$ in head; caudal rounded; a 

 series of small scales below eye ; head otherwise naked. Color (male) light 

 olive, head more yellowish ; body with 5 brownish cross bars, the first obscure 

 at the nape, the last forming a blotch at base of caudal ; a small yellowish 

 spot at base of caudal and a fainter one above it; cheeks and lower jaw 

 banded; an olive blotch on opercle; some brown dots behind eye; dorsal 

 cherry red, paler posteriorly, darkest on produced anterior rays; caudal 

 pale; anal cherry red, with 2 spots of deeper red; pectorals. plain; ventrals 

 deep cherry red. Female, orange brown, much mottled, 5 cross bands, 

 darker and broader than in the male ; 2 yellowish-brown bands across from 

 eye over lower jaw; 2 similar bands across breast before ventrals ; caudal 

 and pectorals plain; ventrals deep brownish red. ROSIPES, 2024. 



