Vol. XXII, pp. 165-170 July 28, 1909 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



S 



NOTES ON A CYPRINODONT (OBESTIAS AGASSIZII) 

 FROM CENTRAL PERU.* 



BY BARTON WARREN EVERMANN AND LEWIS RADCLIFFE. 



The sjocciniens and notes which form the basis for this paper 

 were sent the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries by Dr. S. Austin Davis 

 of the Cerro de Pasco Mining Company, La Fundicion, Peru. 

 Tlie fish were taken in March, 1909, and by careful treatment 

 the brilliancy of their coloration has been well preserved. 



Regarding their preservation, Dr. Davis writes: "I have 

 tried to prepare them in such a way as to preserve their natural 

 form, without shrinkage, their flexibility and brilliancy. At 

 the moment of shipment 1 think I have succeeded fairly well. 

 The process was as follows: They were placed, freshly caught 

 and alive, in a solution of formalin 1-2000 and chloral hydrate 

 1-1000 and left for four to five days. The coagulated slime 

 was then gently removed and the solution strengthened to 1-1000 

 formalin. This solution was removed weekly or as it became 

 discolored. No alcohol or any other preservative used other 

 than stated." 



Describing the waters from which the specimens were obtained, 

 Dr. Davis says: 



"Approximately at the intersection of 11° S. lat. and 76° 10' 

 W. long., touching the N. E. corner of the great Pampa of 

 Junin, with an elevation above the Pacific of 13,500 feet, there 

 is a small plain . From the sides of the low range of hills which 

 almost enclose it arise a few tiny rills. These join near the 

 only break in the enclosure shortly to empty into a more con- 



* Published by permission of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisla and Fisheries. 

 25— Peoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XXII, 1909. (1C5) 



