24 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY II. 



15. XYSTEOPLITES, gen. nov. 



This genus bears nearly the same relation to Uupomotis that Lepiopo- 

 onus does to Xenotis. It comprises those Gentrarchidce which, wanting 

 the supernumerary maxillary bone, have the teeth of the lower pharyn- 

 geals blunt and paved as in Eupomotis, and the gill-rakers long and 

 relatively slender as in Lepiopomus. The pharyngeal bones themselves 

 are much narrower and smaller than in Eupomotis, being in form more 

 like those of Xenotis, The teeth are less strongly "paved", being 

 smaller, less crowded, and rounded rather than truncate; on the inner 

 border of the bone are a few enlarged acute teeth. The species of 

 Xystroplites, as of Eupomotis, have the short rounded ear-flaji bordered 

 below and behind with orange. The type is the species below de- 

 scribed under the name of Xystroplites gillii. Pomotis heros B. & G. 

 also belongs to this genus. The known species strongly resemble 

 Lepiopomus pallidus {incisor) in outward characters, and lack the bril- 

 liant coloration of Eupomotis aureus. The name Xystroplites is from 

 ^u<TTpov, an instrument for scraping (gill-raker), and oTtXirrjg, armed, in 

 allusion to the armature of the gill-rakers. 



16. XYSTEOPLITES GILLII, sp. nov. 



Head 2 J in length; depth 2; eye about equal to flap, 4 J in head. 

 Body elongate, very deep in the middle, abruptly narrowed each way. 

 Greatest depth at the beginning of dorsal; a rapid slope from this point 

 to the base of elongate caudal peduncle; a steep curve from dorsal to 

 occiput, where an abrupt angle is formed with the projecting snout. 

 Top of head sloping at an angle of about 45°. 



Mouth wide, lower jaw a trifle longest ; maxillary reaching just past 

 the front of the pupil. Flap moderate, broad, with a very wide pale 

 edge below and behind. Dorsal spines moderate, as long as from snout 

 to middle of orbit; pectorals medium, barely reaching anal. Dorsal X, 

 10. Anal III, 9. Scales large, 6-42-13; 5 rows on the cheek. 



Coloration obliterated ; apparently uniform olive ; traces of dusky 

 mottlings on last rays of dorsal and anal. 



Type, No. 5995, United States National Museum, from Garden Key, 

 Florida. 



This species may be known from its congener X. Jieros by the peculiar 

 form, and from the species of Lepiopomus by its dentition. 



