199 
FISHES OF COZUMEL, YUCATAN. 
There are a few faint rudiments of scales behind and below the orbit. The interor- 
bital width equals the short diameter of the eye. The distance from the snout to the 
eye is one-third of the length of the head. 
The length of the head is contained three and two-thirds times in the total length 
to caudal base. The greatest height of the body, a little behind the origin of the ven- 
tral, is contained three and one-half times in the standard length. 
The first two dorsal spines are flexible, slenderer and longer than the others ; still 
they are not evidently differentiated from the rest of the fin, as in X. rosipes and some 
other species. The length of the first spine is almost one-half that of the head. The 
second spine is slightly shorter than the first. The third spine is one third as long as 
the head. The ninth spine is slightly longer than the third. The first soft ray is 
three-sevenths as long as the head, while the last ray is one and two-thirds times as 
long as the first spine, its length being about one-fifth of the total without caudal. 
The anal spines are moderately strong. The first spine is about two-thirds as long 
as the eye. The third spine is as long as the third spine of tlie dorsal, and nearly one 
and one-half times as long as the eye. The last anal ray is one-half as long as the 
head. 
The caudal is slightly rounded. 'Its middle rays, from the end of the scales, are 
contained six times in the total to caudal base. 
The ventral spine is one fourth as long as the head. The first ray is produced, 
extending, when laid backward, to the base of the fourth anal ray. The length of the 
ventral is one-third of the total with caudal. 
The pectoral is as long as the head without the snout. 
D. IX, 12; A. Ill, 12; V. I, 5; P. 11; scales 2-26-8. The lateral line pierces 
twenty scales before the interruption, which occurs under the tenth ray of the dorsal. 
In spirits the general color is purplish-gray. There is a broad streak of solferino 
in the middle of the sides, beginning near the head and extending back to above the 
middle of the anal fin. The wfldth of this stripe is uncertain now, but it was probably 
twice that of the eye. The iris is solferino with the exception of a narrow light circle 
around the pupil. Several narrow stripes a little darker than the body color extend 
from the eye over the ijreorbital and cheeks, a similar stripe running almost vertically 
on the operculum. The dorsal is mottled with dusky. The other fins are pearly, 
except the caudal, which is slightly dark with a light margin, and the anal, which 
shows some faint mottlings in alcohol. 
I refer, with some doubt, another young specimen of a Xyrichthys to the foregoing 
species. It is only 57 millimeters long. The first two dorsal spines are flexible and 
the others stiff. The ventral scarcely reaches to the anal origin. Across the top of 
the head and back are nine or ten light blotches, some of these being continued dowm 
the sides, forming about six indistinct bands. 
23. Xyrichthys infirmus, n. s. (PI. 29, fig, 2 .) 
There are four specimens of the present species, catalogue No. 37076. The length 
of the types is from 107 to 123 millimeters. This species also belongs to the subgenus 
Novacula of Bleeker, and is remarkable in having all of the dorsal spines flexible. The 
shape of the body is similar to that of X. ventralis, but the descent of the profile is 
more abrupt ; the species in this respect bears more resemblance to X. psittacus. The 
upper profile of the head does not form a very sharp edge. The snout is comparatively 
