656 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [58] 



type of D. megalepis, a specimen in poor condition from St. Kitts ; (2) 

 the type of I), thalassinus, a specimen in fine condition from Key West, 

 now in the U. S. National Museum ; (3) a third specimen sent by Prof. 

 Poey, from Havana, to the museum at Cambridge ; aud (4) two specimens 

 taken by Dr. James A. Henshall at Garden Key. These last specimens 

 have the snout less slender than it is in the original types, but this dif- 

 ference may be due to their greater age. 



We have little doubt of the identity of I), thalassinus with I), mega- 

 lepis, the slight differences in the descriptions being apparently due to 

 the poor condition of Dr. Giinther's specimens. 



Genus XXL— XYKUL&. 



Xyrula Jordan, geu. no v. (jessiw). 

 Type : Xyrichthys jessiw Jordan. 

 Etymology : A diminutive suggested by Xyrichthys, 

 We have separated from Xyrichthys one of the American species on 

 account of the very large size of the scales, a character which, until 

 intermediate forms are found, may be regarded as of generic value. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF XYRULA. 



a. Scales very large, about l-£ — 20 — 8 ; anterior profile less trenchant than in other 

 species, forming au\sven curve from the snout to the front of the dorsal. Eye 

 larger than in Xyrichthys novacula, 4£ in head ; depth of preorbital, 2J in head ; 

 cheeks more than half as long as deep ; cauine teeth f, large and divergent, 

 as in other species; lateral teeth smaller and more closely set than in X. nova- 

 cula; dorsal spines very slender, scarcely pungent; lateral line running on the 

 highest complete row of scales next the back, the diameter of one of its scales 

 greater than that of the eye. Head 3f in length; depth 3f. Color, uniform 

 bright scarlet, more yellowish below, the fins similar; no blue markings any- 

 where : Jessie, 67. 



67. XYRULA JESSL2E5. 



Xyrichthys jessiw Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1887,698 (off Tampa Bay). 



Habitat. — Gulf of Mexico, in deep water. 



Etymology : Named for Mrs. Jessie Knight Jordan. 



This species is known from a single specimen taken by Mr. Charles 

 H. Bollman from the stomach of some large fish in deep water off Tampa 

 Bay, Florida. It is now in the U. S. National Museum. 



Genus XXIL— XYRICHTHYS. 



Xyrichthys Cuvier, M6moires du Museum d'Hist. Nat., I., 324, 329, 1815 {novacula). 



Novacula Cuvier, Regue Animal, Ed. i, 265, 1817 (novacula). 



Xyrichthys Cuvier, R<>gue Animal, Ed. ii, 1829 (novacula). 



Xyrichthys Swaiuson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Amin., ii, 1839 (novacula) ; Bleeker and Giin- 

 ther (not Novacula Gill, which is Hemipteronotus of Lac6pede and Bleeker, a 

 genus distinguished from lniistius Gill by its scaly cheek's). 



Novaculichthys Bleeker, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1861, 414 (macrolepidotus). 



