198 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
15. Scams guacamaia Cuvier. LoroJ” 
A single specimen, Ko. 37126, was taken in a gill-net January 28, in tlie harbor 
lagoon ; this example is 14 inches long. The following color-notes were taken in the ^ 
fresh condition: Scales bluish, with a brown margin. Sides of head, except cheeks, 
blue. A blue band around the snout; another across the snout in front of the eyes; 
between these two bands there is a brown one. A dark blotch above the eye. Teeth 
blue, with a white margin. Iris golden. Dorsal, anal, and ventrals with a narrow 
blue margin. Most of dorsal, anal, and ventral dark brown. The pectoral is dark 
brown. 
16. Scams croicensis Bloch. 
A single individual, catalogue No. 37052, was taken in seine January 24. It is 
3 inches long. 
17. Sparisoma cyanolene Jor. & Swain. 
Numerous specimens were obtained by seining on the 24th, 27th, and 29th of 
January. Catalogue Nos. 37058, 37091, and 37101. Length 2 to 3J inches. ' 
18. Sparisoma flavescens (Bl. Schn.). 
Numerous examples, catalogue Nos. 37056 and 37100, were caught January 24 ! 
and 27 in seine. Length 2 to 6J inches. 
19. Sparisoma xystrodon Jor. & Swain. 
Three specimens, catalogue No. 37073, were seined January 29. Length 2f to 3 
inches. 
20. Thalassoma nitidum (Gthr.). 
One specimen, seined January 29. D. VIII, 13; A. II, 11 ; scales 2-28-9. 
21. Platyglossus bivittatus (Bloch). 
A single individual, catalogue No. 37109, was caught in the seine January 29. 
Length 3 inches. D. IX, 11; A. Ill, 12. 
22. Xyrichthys ventralis, n. s. (PI. 29, fig. 1.) 
The type of the present species is No. 37077 of the National Museum Catalogue. 
It was the only authentic example secured. The species belongs to the subgenus 
Novacula of Bleeker. It has some points of resemblance to Xyrichthys modestus Poey, 
but differs from this species in form, in the structure of the spinous dorsal, the shape 
of the caudal, and in the size and location of the eye. 
The body is compressed and of moderate height. The upper profile of the head 
does not form a very sharp edge. The profile descends in a very regular curve from 
the beginning of the dorsal to the tip of the snout. The snout is comparatively short 
and blunt and the preorbital is low, its width at the angle of the mouth equaling the 
length of the eye. The maxillary scarcely reaches the vertical from the front of the 
orbit and equals two-sevenths of the length of the head. There are two strong canines 
in the front of each jaw, those of the mandible being received within the maxillary 
canines. Both sets of canines have a lateral and backward curve. No posterior 
canines. 
The eye is distant from the upper profile only about one-third of its diameter, 
which is contained one and one-half times in its distance from the tip of the snout, 
and four and one-half times in the length of the head to the end of the opercular flap. 
