293 



fifths in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head 

 twice and three-fourths. Head as high as long ; snout compressed, 

 elevated, with the cleft of the mouth obhque and with the lower iaw 

 prominent. PrjEorbital wider than the orbit (in the larger indivi- 

 duals), the (Uameter of Avhich equals the width of the interorbital 

 space; the eye is considerably nearer to the extremity of the oper- 

 culum than to that of the snout. Opercles scaly ; suboperculum with 

 two or three series of small scales. 



Dorsal and anal fins entirely scaleless ; dorsal spines rather strong 

 and long, the length of the twelfth being two-fifths of that of thi 

 hcad._ Anal spmes very strong. The middle of the soft dorsal and 

 anal is sometimes produced into a long filament, extending beyond 

 the middle of the caudal. The free portion of the taU is a little 

 higher than long. Caudal slightly emarginate, two-ninths of the 

 total length Pectoral nearly as long as the head, extending to the 

 middle ot the soft anal ; the outer ventral ray is produced. The 

 distance between the vent and the root of the ventral is one-third of 

 the length of the head. 



Ohve with five or six dark cross-bands, the middle of which has 

 a deep-black spot where it passes the lateral Hne; a more or less 

 distmct black spot on the suboperculum ; sides of the head and ver- 

 tical fins with bluish, dark-edged ocelli. 



This species is very closely allied to H. aureus, but may be di- 

 stinguished from it by larger scales, by a more backward position of 

 tlie eyes, by stronger spines, &c. 



13. Heros spurius. 



Heros severus, Jleckel, Bras. FIuss-Fische, p. 362. 



coryphfeus, Heckel, I. c. p. 364. 



modest LIS, Heckel, I. c. p. 366. 



spurius, Heckel, I. c. p. 3(58. 



? Chromys appendicidata, Casteln. Ardm. noui: on rares Amer. Sue/, 

 Pom. p. 15. pi. 7. fig. 3. ' 



^■'IS- ^-T^y L-l^t.29. L.transv.^J. 



The fold of the lower lip continuous in the midcUo ; five series of 

 scales on tlie cheek. The height of the body is more than one-half 

 01 the total length (without caudal). A dark vertical band between 

 the dorsal and anal, terminating in a blackish spot on the root of the 

 antenor dorsal and on that of the posterior anal rays. The remainder 

 of the fisli either nearly uniform dark-brown, or lighter with more 

 or less distinct vertical bands ; head with short vermiculated lines ; 

 body with series of brown dots. 



Fresh waters of Brazil and Guiana. 



a-b. Fine specimens. River Cupai. Purchased of Mr. Stevens.— 

 Dark variety. 



c. Fine specimen. Guiana. Presented by Sir R. Schombur-k.— Li»ht 



variety. ° 



d. Fine specimen. From the Collectlt.n of the Zoological Society — 



Light variet}-. •'' 



