149 



ARGUS CYCHLA. 



Cychla argus, Valenciennes? 



PLATE VIII. 



C. argus, Val., Humb. Zool. Obe. ii. p. 169. — Arawaak and 

 Macusi, Lucanani ; L. Geral, Lucanari j Creole, Sun-fish, 

 Schomib. DrawiTigSy No. 47. 



" This species is found in the Essequibo as well as 

 in the Rios Braneo and Negro, resembles the last in 

 its habits, being found in the same situations. The 

 gill-rays, throat, ventral, anal, and half of caudal fin, 

 vermilion ; tail with a peacock-eye ; large spots of 

 black on the sides, edged with yellow, giving it a 

 gilt appearance ; the upper part of caudal fin and 

 dorsal is indigo spotted with light blue ; the eye 

 yellow, situate over the gape ; nostrils near the eye ; 

 lower jaw slightly produced ; teeth as in the two 

 last species ; opercles scaly, with smooth edges ; 

 scaling small, elliptical, and adhesive ; lateral hne 

 divided as last; ventral fins under the pectorals; 

 air-bag single, length of the cavity of the body; 

 anus situate near the anal fin; gill-opening semi- 

 lunar ; roe double ; half the length of the cavity of 

 the body. It lives only half an hour aftei bein^ 



