201 
FISHES OF COZUMEL, YUCATAN. 
pearly blotches and the connecting lines well developed. The dorsal spines of these 
specimens are flexible and the species bears a close resemblance to X. injirmus, but 
the coloration is quite different and the caudal is more nearly truncate in X. venustus 
than in X. injirmus. Other points of distinction will appear as we proceed with the 
description. 
The descent of the i>rotiie of the head is not abrupt, and the edge of the profile 
does not form a very sharp edge. The snout is short; the preorbital is rather low, the 
shortest distance from the angle of the mouth to the eye scarcely exceeding the length 
of the eye. The maxillary does not reach to the vertical from the front of the orbit; 
its length equals one-fourth the length of the head to the end of the opercular flap. 
The canines are weak. No posterior canines. The eye is distant from the upper 
profile nearly one-half of its own diameter, which is contained five times in tlie length 
of the head and nearly twice in the distance of the eye from the tip of the snout. 
The interorbital width is about equkl to the length of the eye. In some examples 
there are several scales below the orbit. The distance from the snout to the eye is 
contained about two and two-thirds times in the length of the head. 
The length of the head is contained nearly four times in the total length to caudal 
base. The greatest height of the body, which is a little behind the venttals, exceeds 
the length of the head and is contained about three and one-half times in the total 
without caudal. 
All of the dorsal spines are flexibie, and of nearly equal length ; the third spine 
is a little more than one-third as long as the head. The last soft ray is scarcely pro- 
duced; its length equals less than two-fifths the length of the head. The anal spines 
are very feeble; the third spine is less than one-fourth as long as the head. The last 
anal ray is contained nearly three and one-half times in the length of the head. 
The caudal is usually truncate or very slightly rounded. The middle rays from 
the end of the scales are contained about seven and one-third times in the total to 
caudal base. ^ 
The ventral spine is slender and weak, and about twice as long as the eye. The 
longest ventral ray does not quite reach to the vent when extended ; it is about two- 
thirds as long as the head. The length of the ventral is contained five and one-third 
times in the total without caudal. The pectoral is about as long as the ventral. 
D. IX, 12; A. Ill, 12; V. I, 5; P. 11 ; scales 2-27-11. The lateral line pierces 
twenty scales before the interruption, the twentieth pierced scale being under the tenth 
ray of the second dorsal. The scales of the breast and abdomen are somewhat smaller 
than those of the rest of the body. The iiosterior angle of some of the scales on the 
hinder portion of the body is somewhat acute. 
The color in spirits is as follows : The ground color of most of the examples is 
olive-gray, sometimes with a faint orange tinge. The spinous dorsal is somewhat dusky ; 
otherwise the fins are usually pale. A pearly blotch on the side behind the pectoral, 
and about as long as the pectoral, connected with its fellow of the opposite side by 
numerous, sometimes about seventeen, narrow whitish bands. A conspicuous dark 
blotch covering most of the operculum and suboperculum in marked contrast with 
milky-white marking in front of the head, the one behind the head occupying the 
whole of the opercular flap. There are at present no traces of bluish lines upon the 
head. Iris dusky. 
