142 



MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 



Arius passany Gunther, Catalogue, V, 1864, 149 (copied). 



Galeichthys passany Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., IX, 1886, 559 (name only). 



Tachisurus passany Eigenmann and Eigenmann, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., (2), I, 



1888, 141; Occasional Papers Cal. Acad. Sci., I, 1890, 58. 



I have examined the specimen about 543 mm. long collected by R. Schomburgk 

 and now in the Berlin Museum, No. 2968. 



It is very similar to herzbergii but can easily be distinguished by its short snout 

 or rather abbreviated upper jaw and the peculiar dentation of the palate. 



Fig. 27. Teeth of Selenaspis -passany (Cuvier and Valenciennes). 



Not arius Gill. 

 Arius Bleeker, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk., I, 1863, 91 (grandicassis) , not Arius 



Bleeker, 1858. 

 Notarius Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 171 (grandicassis). 



Type, Arius grandicassis Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Distinguished by its peculiar and variable occipital crest. Dorsal plate small ; 

 occipital crest not wider, usually much narrower at its base than towards its 

 middle or tip. 



But three species of this genus are known. They range along the coast of 

 South America from near Bahia to Guiana. All three are abundant in the George- 

 town market. 



Key to the Species of Notarius. 



a. Occipital process narrowly and deeply constricted at base, its margins regularly and strongly convex. 



grandicassis. 

 aa. Occipital process broadly and deeply constricted, its margins describing a double curve; convex 



toward tip, concave toward base parmocassis. 



aaa. Occipital process narrowed, its margins scarcely convex stricticassis. 



20. Notarius grandicassis (Cuvier and Valenciennes). (Plate VIII, fig. 1.) 

 Arius grandicassis Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., XV, 1840, 54, pi. 



427 (Guiana?).— Gunther, Catalogue, V, 1864, 153 (copied). 

 Galeichthys grandicassis Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., IX, 1886, 559 (name 



only) . 



