GILBERT AND STAKES — FISHES OF PANAMA BAY 21 



The narrow pointed snout, and large convexly curved mouth combine to 

 give the hitter a considerable lateral cleft, when seen from the side. The length 

 of the head is very constant, 3J to oyo in length, when measured to margin of 

 opercular membrane. Eye o to 3i in its distance from tip of snout. The upper jaw 

 protrudes beyond the lower for about three-fourths the width of the thick upper lip. 

 The maxillary barbels extend beyond base of pectoral spine, but not beyond its basal 

 third. Pectoral pore variable, usually minute and detected with difficulty, occa- 

 sionally an obvious slit. 



The anal fin is very long, with perfectly straight margin, the rays declining 

 regularly from the longest to the last. Five specimens have respectively 23, 24, 24, 

 24 and 25 anal rays, including rudiments. The anus is anteriorly placed, its distance 

 from base of ventrals equaling half its distance from front of anal fin. All but one 

 of the specimens are females, and have the inner edge of the ventrals and the upper 

 side of the inner rays covered by a thickened fold of skin. 



Light brownish in life, with blue and green reflections; the lower portion of 

 the sides coarsely punctate with brown. The fins are all dusky toward tips, the basal 

 portions dull orange yellow. Maxillary barbels blackish, the others white. The 

 specimens answer well to the description of the tyjjes. 



It is evident that the relative smoothness of the head cannot serve to distin- 

 guish the nominal genera Gakichthys and Hexanematichthys. The character is 

 dependent partly on variation in the granulation of the bones, partly on the amount 

 of thickening of the integument. Many species from different sections of the group 

 show similar individual variations, according to which they might be placed in one 

 or the other genus. The American species with villiform teeth and comparatively 

 narrow cresceutic palatine patches will be ranged under the oldest name, Gakichthys. 



31. Galeichthys peruvianus {Lutken). 



This rare species was not seen. Described originally from Callao, it has been 

 recorded from Panama by Steindachner and by Gilbert, and from Altata, Mexico, 

 by Steindachner. It has not been procured by any of the numerous investigators 

 in northern Mexico. 



32. Galeichthys eigenmanni, sp. nov. 



Plate IV, Fig. 7. 



This species, found in abundance at Panama, and identified with G. aeemanni 

 by Eigenmann and others, seems to be an undescribed species. G. seemnnnl is from 

 some unknown locality in Central America, not improbably from the Atlantic side. 

 It is described (Giinther, 1864 «, p. 147) as having the top of the head finely 

 granular; the occipital process with a i^rominent ridge; vomerine patches of teeth 

 luidely separated; and j^articularly as having the fontanel reaching to the base of the 

 occipital process. Dr. Jordan (1883, p. 282) has re-examined the type in the 

 British Museum for this last character, and has found it as described. In all these 

 respects the Panama specimens differ strongly, as shown below. 



, 4 ) March 3, 190;). 



