xerostomia 
xerostomia (ze-ro-sto'mi-a), ». [NL., < Gr. 
ii/p6c, di-y, + cTOfia, moutt.] Abnormal (lr.v- 
ness of the mouth. 
xerotes (ze'ro-tez), ». [NL., < Gr. ^VP"'^'K, tli;y- 
ness. < iipoc, dry.] In mod., adry habit or dis- 
position of the body. 
xerotic (ze-rot'ik), a. [< xerotes + -ic] Char- 
acterized by dryness; of the nature of or per- 
taining to xerotes or xerosis. 
xerotribia (ze-ro-trib'i-il), n. [NL., < Gr. 
^tlpo-pi;iia, dry rubbing, i inp^K, dry, -1- rpijieiv, 
nib.] Dry friction. 
xerotripsis (ze-ro-trip'sis), w. [NL., < Gr.f^pof, 
dry, -I- Tptiiiic, nibbing, < rplSriv, rub.] Same as 
xcrotribin. 
XerUS (ze'rus), n. [NL. (Hemprich and Bhren- 
berg), so called from the character of the fur; < 
Gr.fv/xJf , dry.] Agenus of African ground-squir- 
Africail (iroiinil-squirrel {Xerits riitilntis^. 
rels, having dry, harsh far, which in some cases 
is bristly and even spiny. They are of more or less 
terrestrial <ind fossorial habits, like spermophiles. The 
species are few. Tlie best-known is ^V. rutilatis, 11 inches 
Ions, the tail 9 more, and of a reddish-yellow color above, 
pak-r or whitisli below. The red-footed is X. erythropua. 
Xestia (zes'ti-ii), n. [NL. (Hubner, 1816), < Gr. 
iearog, smooth, smoothed by scraping, < ^ceiv, 
scrape.] 1. A genus of noctuid moths, of the 
family Ortliosiidse. Three species are known, 
two from Europe and one from North America. 
— 2. A genus of coleopterous insects, of the 
family Ceramhycidse, named by Serville in 1834. 
About a dozen species are known, all South 
American. 
Xestobium (zes-to'bi-um), n. [NL. (Mot- 
schulsky, 1845), < Gr. ^cardi;, smooth, dry, -f 
jiioi'V, live.] A genus of bark-boring beetles, of 
the family Ptinidse, having the presternum very 
short and the tarsi broad. Three species are de- 
scribed from Europe, and three from North America. X. 
ajfine breeds in dead maple-stumps in the United States. 
Ximenia (zi-me'ni-a), «. [NL. (Plumier, 1703), 
named after Francisco Ximcncn, a Spanish natu- 
ralist, who wrote in 1615 on medicinal plants.] 
A genus of polypetalous plants, of the order Ola- 
cineiE and tribe (Hacess. It is characterized by flowers 
with the calyx persistent imchanged, the petals inwardly 
bearded, the stamens in immber more than donble the 
petals and each bearing an oblong or linear anther. There 
are 5 species, natives chiefly of the tropics, one widely 
dispersed through both the Old and New Worlds, one 
Polynesian, and one South African. They are shrubs or 
trees, smootli or tomentose, often armed with spinescent 
branches. They bear alternate entire leaves, often in 
clusters. The flowers are whitish, larger than in most of 
the ordei", and arranged in short axillary cymes. X. Amen- 
cana, a native of the West Indies, l'"l(jrida, and Mexico, is 
known as tallow-nut (which see), in Florida as hofj-plum 
and ^viUi lUtui, and in the West Indies as mountaiti^plum, 
ttea'iide plum, and false sandalwood. 
Xiphiadid8e(zif-i-ad'i-de), u.pl. SeeXiphiul^e^. 
Xiphianae (zif-i-a'ne), n. pi. See Xipliiidse'^. 
XipMas (zif i-as), n. [NL. (Linnajus, 1748), < 
L. .ripliias, < Gr. fii^/fi';, a swordtish, a sort of 
comet, < ^ttpijr, sword.] 1. The typical genus 
of Xipliiidie, now restriete<l to swordflshes with- 
out teeth or ventral fins, and thus exclusive 
of the sailfishes and spear-fishes (Hintiophorun 
and Tetrapturnf!). The dorsal fins are two, the first 
high and falcate, and the second very small and situated 
on the tail, opjiosite tlie small second unal. In younger 
individuals, however, teeth are present, and the two dor- 
sals are ccjimectcd, so that the banner is more like that of 
a sailflsh. Theflrst anal resembles the flist dorsal, but is 
smaller and less falcate; the pectorals are moderate and 
falcate. The caudal keel is single ; the skin is rough and 
naked, or in the young has rudinicntai-y scales. X. gla- 
diiLH is the common swonlflsh, widely dispersed in both 
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, attaining a weight of 300 or 
400 jKiunds, with the sword a yard long. It is dark-bluish 
alwve, dusky below, with the sword blackish on top. See 
cut under swordjish. 
2. In ui-trmi.: (a) A constellation made by Pe- 
tms Theodori in the fifteenth century, in the 
south pole of the ecliptic, and now named Dti- 
riido. (Ii) [I. c] In older authors, a sword- 
shaped <'<jmet. 
7002 
Xiphicera (zi-fis'e-ra), «. [NL. (Latreille, 
1825), < Gr. fi'^of, sword, -1- ncpa^, horn.] A 
genus of orthopterous insects, of the family 
Acridiidee, or forming a family Xiphiceridm. 
They are very large strong grasshoppers with crested pro- 
notum and ensiform antenna;. About 2.') species have 
been described, mainly from South America. Others are 
found in Mexico, the West Indies, jVustralia, Java, China, 
and Corea. Also Xiphocera (Bnrmeister, 1838). 
Xiphiceridae (zif-i-ser'i-de), n. 2)1. [NL. (S. H. 
Scudder, as Xiphoceridx), < Xiphicera + -idte.'\ 
A family of short-horned grasshoppers, founded 
on the genus Xiphicera, and containing some 
half-dozen genera of large tropical and sub- 
tropical forms. 
Xipnidion(zi-fid'i-on),». [NL. (Serville, 1831), 
also Xiphidium (Agassiz, 1846), erroneously Xy- 
phidium (Fieber, 1854); < Gr. ^iipiSmv, dim. of fi- 
(/wf, sword.] 1. In entoni., a genus of orthopte- 
rous insects, of the family Locmtidse, synony- 
mous in part with Orchelimum. They are slender 
long-horned grasshoppers which lay their eggs in the pith 
of plants, thus sometimes damaging cereals, especially 
maize. 
2. Inichth., a genus otblennioid fishes: so called 
by Girard m 1859. Being preoccupied in ento- 
mology, the name has been changed to Xiphis- 
tcr (which see). 
Xiphidiontidse (zi-fid-i-on'ti-de), «. pi. [NL., 
irreg. < Xiphidion + -idse.'] A family of fislies, 
the gunnels or gunnel-fishes: same as Murae- 
noididse. See rock-eel. 
Xiphidiopterus (zi-fid-i-op'te-rus), n. [NL. 
(Reichenbach, 1853), <Gr. ^i<pi'iiov, dim. of fi'^of, 
sword, + TTTtpuv, wing.] A genus of spur- 
winged plovers, of which the West African A'. 
albiccps is the type. It is a remarkable bird, being 
the only one of these plovers presenting the combination 
of wattles and spurs and only three toes (see spur-unnged); 
in consequence, it has been placed in five different genera. 
White-crowned Lapwing i,Xiphidioptertis albicefs). 
It is known as the black'Sfiouidered and white -crotimed lap- 
wiiuf, and these color-marka are quite distinctive. It is 
a very rare bird, originally described by Gould from the 
Niger. 
Xiphidiorhynchus (zi-fid"i-6-ring'kus), n. 
[NL. (Reichenbach, 1845), < Gr. ^^iAiov, dim. of 
f(^of, sword, -1- piyxoc, snout.] An Australian 
genus of wading birds, resembling both stilts 
andavosets. The species is A', jjecfora/is. See 
stilt, 71., 6. Also called Leptorhynchns and Cla- 
dorhynchtis. 
Xiphidium (zi-fid'i-um), n. [NL., <Gr. ^upiSiov, 
dim. of i'li^m;, sword.] Same as Xiphidion, 1. 
Xiphihumeralis (zif-i-lm-me-ra'lis), n. ; pi. 
xipliihiimcrales (-lez). [NL. (sc. muscidtis), < 
xiph(ind) + humerus.'] Amuscle whiehinsome 
animals passes from the xiphoid cartilage to 
the proximal end of the humerus. 
Xiphiidael (zi-fi'i-de), n. pi. In mammal. See 
Zijiliiid!c. 
Xiphiidse'-i (zi-fi'i-de), ». pi. [NL., < Xiphias + 
-idcP.] A family of fishes, typified by the genus 
Xijihias; the swordfishes. It has included forms 
now placed in Ilistiophoridte. Exclusive of these, it is 
the same as Xipldtnie. Also Xiphioidx, Xtphioides, Xi- 
phiiformes, Xiphiadidie, and Xiphiame. See cut under 
strordlish. 
xiphiiform (zif 'i-i-f6rm), a. Same as xiphioid~. 
Xipiiiformes (zif"i-i-f6r'mez), n. pi. [NL., < 
Xijihias + L. /()/■)»«, form.] Same as Xiphiidee^. 
Xiphiinse (zif-i-I'ne), «. pi. [NL., < Xiphias 
+ -ime.'] A subfamily of Xiphiidse, represented 
by the true swordfishes alone, without teeth 
or ventral fins. See cut under stcordjish. 
xiphioidl (zif 'i-oid), a. and n. In mammal. See 
^i/diioid. 
xipMoid- (zif'i-oid), a. and v. [< Xiphias + 
-"/<'.] I. a. Resembling the swordfish ; related 
to the swordfish ; belonging to tlie Xiphiidae, or 
having their characters. Also xiphiiform. 
II. II. A iiiernlier of the family .V(;)/(i/rfa". 
xiphoid 
xiphiplastral (zif-i-plas'tral), a. [< xiphiplat- 
tron + -al.} Of the nature of, or pertaining to, 
the ehelonian xiphiplastron. Also used sub- 
stantively. 
The imperfect left xiphiplastral. 
Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., XLV. 511. 
xiphiplastron (zif-i-plas'tron), w. ; pi. xiphi- 
plastra (-trii). [NL., < Gr. fiVf, a sword, + E. 
jilastroti.] 'The fourth lateral piece of the plas- 
tron of a turtle; one of the pair of terminal 
pieces of the plastron in Chelon ia, called xiphi- 
sternum by some. See cuts unAex plastron and 
Chelonia. 
Xiphister (zi-fis'tfer), n. [NL. (Jordan, 1879), < 
Gr. ^tifuariip, a sword-belt, < fi'^, sword.] A ge- 
nus of blennioid fishes, the type of which is the 
species called Xiphidion mucosum by Girard. 
Tills is found along the coast from Monterey to Alaska, 
reaching the length of 18 inches, and is abundant about 
tide-rocks, where it feeds on seaweeds. X. rupestris is a 
smaller but similar flsh, found with the preceding ; and a 
third member of the genus, of the same habitat and still 
smaller, is X. chirus. 
Xiphisterinae (zi-fis-te-ri'ne), «. pi. [NL., < 
Xiphister + -i'xa?.] In Jordan and Gilbert's 
classification, a subfamily of Blenniidee, typi- 
fied by the genus Xiphister. 
xiphisternal (zif-i-ster'nal), a. [< xiphistertium 
+ -«?.] 1. In awa/., of tte nature of the xiphi- 
stemum, or last sterneber of the sternum ; 
pertaining to the xiphistemum ; ensiform or xi- 
phoid, as a cartilage or bone of the breast-bone. 
Dissect out the xiphisternal cartilage of a recently-killed 
frog, and remove its membranous investment (perichon- 
drium). Huxley and Martin, Elementary Biology, p. 128. 
2. In Chelonia, xiphiplastral. See cuts under 
Chelonia and plastron. 
xiphistemum (zif-i-stfer'num), n. ; pi. xiphi- 
sterna (-na). [NL., prop, xiphosternum, < Or. 
^'(po(, sword, -t- aripvov, breast-bone.] 1. The 
hindmost segment or division of the sternum, 
corresponding to the xiphoid appendage or en- 
siform cartilage of man. it is of various shapes in 
different animals, sometimes forked or double, there being 
a right and a left xiphist«rnum, as in some lizards. It 
succeeds the segment or segments called the mesostemum. 
See cuts under mesostemum and sternum. 
2. The xiphiplastron of a turtle. See second 
cut under Chelonia. 
Xiphisura (zif-i-su'rii), n. pi. [NL. (orig. er- 
roneously Xyphosura (Latreille), later Xyphi- 
sura, Xiphiura, Xiphosura (which see), and 
prop. Xiphura), noting the dagger-like telson 
of the king-crab; < Gr. f/^c, sword, + ovpd, 
tail.] In Latreille's classification, the first fam- 
ily of his I'oecilopoda, contrasted with his f>ipho- 
nostoma, and containing only the genus Limu- 
lus. Compare Syn::iphosura. See cuts under 
horscshoc-crab and Limulus. 
Xiphiura (zif-i-u'ra), n.pl. See Xiphisiira. 
Xiphius (zif'i-us), ». In mammal. See Ziphiu-s. 
Xiphocera, Xiphoceridae. See Xiph icera, Xiphi- 
cerideP. 
Xiphocolaptes (zif"o-ko-lap'tez), n. [NL. 
(Lesson, 1840), < Gr. f/^of, sword, -I- •KoJ.as-r^, 
taken for Ho'/a-rr/p, a chisel: see Dcndrocolap- 
t(s.~\ A genus of Dendrocolaptidse, including 
some of the largest pieulules, having the bill 
much compressed and moderately long (not 
half as long again as the tarsus). It includes 
about a dozen species of tropical America, averaging a foot 
long, which is large for this family, as X. albicollis, etc. 
xiphodidymus (zif-o-did'i-mus), n. [< Gr. fi- 
^>of, sword, -f- iidvpoQ, twin.] Same as xiphopa- 
nus. 
Xiphodon (zif'o-don), n. [NL. (Cuvier, 1822), 
< Gr. f/^os', sword, -I- ocSoif {bdovr-) = E. tooth.] 
A genus of fossil artiodactyl mammals, of Eo- 
cene age and smaU size, now referred to the 
Dichobunidie. 
Xiphodontidae (zif-o-don'ti-de), ». pi. [NL., < 
Xiphodontus + -idse.] A family of anoplotheri- 
oid mammals, at one time recognized as com- 
posed of the 3 genera Xiphodon, Csenotherium, 
and ilierothcriiim. 
Xiphodontus (zif-o-don'tus), M. [NL. (West- 
wood, 1838), < Gr. ^i(po(. sword, + b6oi( (odour-) 
= E. tooth.] A genus of coleopterous insects, 
of the family Lucanidx, having but one species, 
A', antilope, from South Africa, remarkable for 
its long sword-like mandibles. 
xiphoid (zi'foid), a. and n. [< Gr. ^kjioiiSk, 
sword-shaped. < fi'^oc, sword, + eldo^, form.] 
I. a. Shaped like or resembling a sword; ensi- 
fonn — Xiphoid appendage, appendix, or cartilage, 
the xiphistemum. .'^ee cartilafir'. and cuts under nicfo-^ter- 
num and sternum. Alsocalled xijihoid jrrocess. — Xiphoid 
hone, in omith., the occipital style vi the comuirant and 
some related birds; along sharp dagger-like or ensiform 
ossidcation in the nuchal ligament, attached to the occiput 
by its l)ase, and pointing backward. 
