243 



SCHOMBURGK'S TETRAGONOPTERLS. 

 T. Schomhurghii. 



PLATE XXII. 



L. Geral, Pacu. Schomb. Drawings, No. 63. 



We have dedicated this species to Mr. Schomburgk, 

 as one of much interest from its colouring, and as 

 remarkable for the development of its fins and the 

 singular mark across the centre of the body. " It 

 was caught in the Rio Negro in April, feeds on fruits, 

 and swallows sand. The scales are small, elliptical, 

 adhesive, and slightly serrated ; a spine anterior to 

 the dorsal fin ; tongue round and fleshy ; the intes- 

 tines have numerous appendices; the roe double, 

 and filling two-thirds of the cavity of the abdomen ; 

 the air-bladder is double, both portions of an oval 

 form." In colour the head is pale olive, approaching 

 to yellowish on the opercula, and below the eye 

 is marked with three black spots; the eye large, 

 with a yellow iris. The dorsal half of the fish is 

 greyish blue, shading to white at the lateral line, 

 but changing on the ventral half of the lower sur- 

 face to pale yellowish green, marked with indistinct 



