524 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [July, 



very low slope. From the last ray of the dorsal to the adipose almost 

 straight. Caudal peduncle deep, compressed. Ventral profile evenly 

 curved from the isthmus to the origin of the anal. Belly round to 

 the ventrals, keeled between the ventrals and the anus. 



Head short and he&yj, 4 J in total length, height to base of occipital 

 process 1^ in length. 



Eye large, 3i in head, 2 in the interorbital. Snout short, equal to 

 eye, 3| in head. 



Each intermaxillary with an outer series of about 9 small, even 

 tricuspid teeth. Behind each of these runs a more irregular series 

 of slightly larger tricuspid teeth. Behind the inner ends of these 4 

 runs a cross series of about 4 or 5 larger five-cuspid teeth. Maxillaries 

 narrow, straight, not sheathed by the preopercle, each with a single 

 series of fine teeth extending about f its length. Mandible with an 

 outer series of tricuspid teeth, the forward 6 on each side much larger 

 than the others. Of these six the second is the largest, the first and 

 third are equal, the others are smaller. Just behind the center of this 

 series are 10 very small conical teeth. 



The upper lip is very thin and adnate. The lower is thick and free, 

 and at the outer ends it thins out and the free edge turns down to join 

 the point of the maxillaries. 



The tongue is thick, soft and adnate. The rami of the dentary wide 

 apart; the four branchiostegals exposed. Gill-rakers setiform, gill- 

 membranes united in front but free from the isthmus. The longest 

 ray of dorsal 5 in length. Origin of dorsal in the middle of the length, 

 just back of the insertion of the ventrals; the shortest ray 3 in the 

 longest. 



Pectorals If in head, not reaching ventrals. Ventrals H in the 

 head, reaching the anus. Anal moderately high, its last ray If in the 

 third, the latter f of the anal sheathed by scales for about -j its height. 



Caudal but slightly indented; its middle ray 2f in the head. 



Adipose over the last anal rays. 



Color in formalin: Flesh color, darker above; a faint humeral spot 

 and a large black spot at the base of the caudal and extending to the 

 ends of the middle caudal rays. An indistinct blotch on the opercle. 

 The snout and top of the head dark. A faint suggestion of longitudinal 

 striations following the lines of scales. 



76. Chalcinus angulatus curtus Garman. Pira guira. 



Nine specimens, Asuncion (146, 75); Estancia La Armenia (26); 

 Arroyo Trementina (184); Campo Grande (266). 



77. Gasteropelecus stellatus Kner. 



Nine specimens (69), Laguna Pasito, Asuncion. 



