GILBEKT AND STAEKS — FISHES OF PANAMA BAY 51 



95. Poecilia boucardii Steindachner. 



Very abundant in fresh and brackish water. Found in every pond and 

 stream in the savannah about Panama. They agree very well with Dr. Steindach- 

 ner's descrijition of the typical specimens, which were taken about Colon. 



The black spots on the caudal are quite variable in size. In most specimens 

 the caudal fin and even the posterior part of the caudal peduncle, is profusely covered 

 with rather large black spots. There are elongate or elliptical spots between the rays, 

 and smaller indistinct spots are on the rays. In a few specimens the spots are small 

 and diffused, those on the rays being most persistent. The young, 25 to 40 mm. 

 long, have only small indistinct spots. 



96. Anableps dowei Gill. 



Not seen by us. 



The types of the species have been ascribed to Panama, this locality being based 

 on the following ambiguous statement by Gill (18G1 a, p. 3): "There has recently 

 been sent to the Smithsonian Institution from Panama, by Cajitain J. M. Dow, a new 

 species of the genus Anableps." While this specimen was sent from Panama, it was 

 ajjparently not captured at that point, as witness the following statement published 

 by Dow (1861, p. 30): "Some time since, while in the bay of La Union, State of 

 San Salvador, I caught ... a coujile of what I supposed was Anahlejis tetroph- 

 thalmus; but upon sending them to my friend. Professor Baii-d, of the Smithsonian 

 Institution at Washington, was somewhat surprised and gratified to hear that they 

 were of an entirely new species . . . A. dowii." On a subsequent trip, Dow 

 obtained (1. c.) from the same locality several sj^ecimens, which were likewise sent to 

 the Smithsonian Institution (see Jordan and Gilbert, 1882 i, p. 373). Others are 

 recorded by Giinther (1866 «, p. 338) from Chiapam and Guatemala, and still others 

 (Giinther, 1864 6, p. 27) are said to have been collected by Captain Dow on the 

 "Pacific Coast of Panama." 



There seems to be no warrant for changing the sj^elling of the specific name, 

 as has been done, to doivi, dowii or dovii. It appears as dowei in three j^laces in the 

 original description, a fact which sufficiently indicates the deliberate intention of the 

 author concerning it. 



^o 



Family ESOCID.F:. 

 97. Tylosurus scapularis Jordan <t Gilbert. 



Several specimens seined in fresh water at Miratlores. Four specimens pre- 

 served, the largest 41 cm. in length, the others 23. 



In these sfkccimens the caudal peduncle is not compressed, as described for 

 the type, but is about as wide as deep. The body is somewhat depressed, esj^ecially 

 in the ventral region. The description of the type states that the eye " is contained 

 8 or 9 times in the length of the upper jaw" (this agrees with our specimens), "and 



