17^ 



IRREGULARLY BANDED GYMNOTUS. 



Gymnotus fasciaiiLS. 



PLATE XIX. 



Schomh. Dramngs, No. 35. 



" This species was found in the Rio Branco. The 

 body is long, head depressed, lower jaw considerably 

 larger than the upper ; it is devoid of dorsal, ventral, 

 and caudal fins ; the pectoral, situate near the head, 

 the anal reaching nearly the whole length of the 

 body. The body is compressed, ending at a keel 

 at the anal fin; scaling very small, deciduous, 

 elliptical ; lateral line running above the middle of 

 the body; nostrils double, one pair on the snout, 

 and one pair further back ; eyes situate nearer the 

 snout than the middle of the head, small, and of a 

 dark colour ; the tongue round and fleshy ; teeth 

 double rows, five in both jaws ; the gill-lids smooth 

 and opening in an oval hole. It lives an hour or 

 more after being taken from the water, is used for 

 food, and is taken with small hooks baited with 

 worms. The intestines are long, and have appen- 

 dices attached to the stomach and intestines. There 

 are several species of this fish, varying in colour 



