1885.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 01 



Analysis of Species of Batrachoides. 



Common Characters. — Dorsal spines three ; opercle developed 

 as two strong diverging spines ; subopercle strongly developed ; 

 branches of subopercular spine subequal and diverging ; body 

 covered with small ctenoid scales ; frontal region broad, flat, and 

 slightly depressed, its median ridge rather prominent. 



a. Teeth small, abont 14 on vomer; anterior teeth on lower jaw 



in a band ; lateral teeth on palatines enlarged and canine-like, 



irregularly arranged ; pectoral without pores on its inner 



surface. Color grayish, darker on sides and head ; base of soft 



dorsal pale, with a dark irregular line above ; upper part of 



fin lighter ; caudal nearly black ; anal fin light, with some 



dark markings. Head 3£ in length of body ; depth 6. D. 



Ill— 29 ; A. 26. Surinamensis. 10. 



aa. Teeth larger, about 8 on vomer ; anterior teeth on lower jaw 



in two rows ; lateral teeth on lower jaw gradually increasing 



to middle of jaw, behind which they become abruptly 



smaller, and then gradually increase to end of jaw ; three 



teeth on middle of palatines enlarged and canine-like, the 



middle one the smallest ; pectoral with a row of pores on 



inner surface. Color olivaceous brown ; some indistinct 



dark cross-bands on body ; dorsal with about seven very 



irregular oblique dark bars, anal with about five; pectorals 



and caudal dark, with few light cross-bands. Head 3 in 



length of body. D. 111-26 ; A. 22. Pacifici. 11. 



10. Batrachoides surinamensis. 



Batrachoides tau Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii, 1798, 30G, pi. 12, fig. 

 1 (not Gadus tau L.) 



Batrachus surinamensis ~B\oc\i & Schneider, Systemalchthyol., 1801, 43, 

 tab. 7 (Surinam); Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xii, 1837, 

 488 (Surinam); Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii, 1861, 174 (Dema- 

 rara ; British Guiana ; West Coast Central America). 



Habitat. — Atlantic Coast of Tropical America; a specimen 

 recorded by Dr. Giinther from the Pacific Coast. 



The single specimen of this species examined by us is from 

 Curuca. The record given by Dr. Giinther of this species from 

 the Pacific Coast needs verification. It was not found at Panama 

 by Professor Gilbert. 



