GILBERT AND STARRS — FISHKS OF PANAMA BAY 131 



I-i|)s, pillar meml)ianes, and under side of snout naked, head and body otl)erwise scaled. 

 Scales on niandihle, and a small patch on base of anterior branchioste^als, cycloid; those in advance 

 of nostrils cycloid, or very weakly ctenoid; scales otherwise strongly ctenoid. Second dorsal and 

 anal with a definite low scaly sheath at base, consistint; of a sinijle series of small scales and in addition 

 series of scali-s on the membranes, e.xtendini^ two-thirds distance to tip. Caudal scaled to tip. L;iteral 

 line uilli a lniU4 low iur\c, the iuinht of which equals half diameter of orbit. 



Color steel-jjray above, \\ ithout dark streaks, white below, the cheeks and lower |)<>rtion of 

 sides with much brown specking, sometimes confined to the margins of the scales. Mouth white 

 within. Lining of oiiercles blackish. F"ins dusky, the distal part of ventrals black, the outer ray 

 white. Anal uith the anterior rays tipped with black. 



A siii,<;le .specimen 187 mm. lonjj;. 



This .s|)ecies is closely related to <). sclenm, but difTers in tlie loiij^er, less 

 eompi-essed body, the plain coloration, the turgid preorbitals, less arched lateral 

 line, and .smaller canines. 



244. Ophioscion strabo Gilbert. 



Thi.s species is listed, without remark, by JJoulonger (18'J'J, p. o) from liio 

 Tuyra, and other rivers on the western slope of the Isthmus of Darien. The species 

 was not seen by us. These Panama specimens should be carefully compared with 

 the closely related species Ujpicus and siinulus, which are known from Panama and 

 closely resemble 0. strnbo. 



245. Ophioscion imiceps {Jordan <t Gilbert). 



This species seems to be rather rare at Panama. During our stay of six weeks 

 we secured twelve specimens. Like other species of the genus, 0. iinicepa varies 

 greatly in length of snout and diameter of eye. 



Head 31 to 3;J in length; depth 25 to 'SI. Eye 4^ to 5.1 in head; snout 3g 

 to 4; interorbital width SjJ to 45; second dorsal spine 2^ to 3; third dorsal spine 

 1;; to 2. 



Common. 



246. Ophioscion scierus {Jordan <C- Gilbert). 

 Plate XIX, Vu:. .39. 



The snout projects beyond the mouth for a distance varying from one-third to one-half 

 the diameter of the eye. It increases in sharpness with its length. 



Interorbital width (bone) 4J to 4J in head (not 5^); snout 3! to 3J; eye 5{ to 5^. Gill- 

 rakers short, barely movable, 12 on horizontal limb of arch. Soft dorsal with a distinct, rather wide 

 sheath of scales at base; each interradial membrane with a series of scales, rapidly diminishing in size 

 from the base upward, reaching half way to margin of fin. Anal similarly scaled, the basal sheath less 

 clearly defined. 



Second dorsal spine very stout, conspicuously stronger than any of the succeeding spines, all 

 of which are slender and weak. The eleventh spine is twice the length of the tenth. The second anal 

 spine is very robust, twice the width of the second dorsal spine, reaching to opposite the tij) of the fifth 

 soft ray. Soft dorsal rays 24 or 25. 



Opercular lining'blackish. 



