658 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [60] 



co. Ventral fins moderate; do black ocellus anywhere; first two dorsal spines 

 flexible like the rest, none of them being puugeut ; no small scales below 

 eye ; body more elongate than in X. novacula, the anterior profile of 

 the head less steep and less trenchant; head 3f in length; depth 3f ; 

 scales 29. Color in spirits reddish, the fins dark (in the male) ; head 

 without evident blue lines; a blue vertical streak on each scale, as in 

 other species; no silvery blotch, and no inky spot on body (doubtful 



species, imperfectly described) *Martinicensis, 70. 



aa. Anterior profile of head parabolic ; preorbital very deep, its depth half head ; 

 eye near top of head, its diameter not half depth of preorbital ; aute- 

 rior profile of head more or less trenchant ; head with blue vertical 

 stripes, at least in the male; usually a blue vertical bar on each 

 scale. (Xyrichthys.) 

 d. Black ocellus (at least in males) present on body or fins. 



e. Black ocellus, bordered with blue })resent on dorsal fin, behind sixth spine, 

 none on body ; a few small scales below eye ; depth 3£ in length; head 

 4; ventrals somewhat filamentous, their tips scarcely reaching beyond 

 vent. Color violaceous, with a diffuse brownish cross-blotch at end of 

 first third of body, under dorsal ocellus; dorsal and anal red; caudal 

 yellow, with transverse violet lines, head with 12 vertical blue stripes; 



eye 2£ iu preorbital, which is 2^ in head Uniocellatus, 71. 



ee. Black ocellus larger than eye and located at base of caudal, just below 

 lateral line; none on dorsal fin ; three concentric blue curved lines on 

 flap of opercle ; three narrow blue lines across cheek ; a violet vertical 

 line on base of each scale ; lower jaw with numerous lines; fins pale; 

 unmarked; female plain light brown, without markings on head or 

 body ; depth about 3£ in length, the males deeper than the females; 



head 3|; scales2-24-9 Mundiceps, 72. 



dd. No black ocellus present anywhere on body or on fins in either sex. 



/. Scales of sides of body each with a vertical blue spot. General color 

 more or less red ; side of body with a diffuse silvery area below and 

 behind the pectoral fin, often wanting or disappearing in spirits ; scales 

 below this area with pearly vertical streaks; color rose-red or brown- 

 ish, with a blue vertical streak on each scale ; vertical blue streaks on 

 the head, as in other species ; males (in life, always) with a dark-red 

 cross-shade behind pectorals, this disappearing in spirits; dorsal im- 

 maculate; anal with oblique violaceous streaks; caudal with 6 or 8 

 dark cross-streaks. Head 3£ in length ; depth 35 ; eye small, 5£ in 

 head ; scales 2-26-8 Novacula, 73. 



ff. [Scales of sides of body without blue spots; head with but five vertical 

 streaks of blue ; color red, the fins nearly plain ; a red axillar band, 

 disappearing in spirits; iris red; caudal truncate; otherwise as in 

 X. novacula, of which it is probably a color variety.] (Poey.) 



MODESTUS, 74. 



68. XYRICHTHYS ROSIPES. 



Xyrichthys rosipes Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 27 (Key West). 

 Habitat. — West Indian fauna, Key West. 

 Etymology : Roscus, rosy ; pes, foot, from the red ventrals. 

 Of this curious little fish only two specimens are known, both young, 



* Allied to X. mariinicensis, or perhaps intermediate between it and X. novacula, is 

 X. infirmus Bean. This species has the profile moderately parabolic, its edge not 

 very trenchant ; the eye nearly twice in the preorbital, and half its diameter from 

 the profile; dorsal spines all flexible. Color olive, with blue cross-streaks and dark 

 axil. No black ocelli anywhere. 



