45. PLATYSTOMA. lOT 



barbels are much longer than the head, and the others also exceed 

 the head in length. Ero-\niish above, spotted Avith darker, the lower 

 parts whitish ; fins with black dots. 

 South America. 



4. Platystoma fasciatum. 



Silurus ftisciatus, part., L. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 505. 



Silurus fasciatus, Bl. taf. 36(5 ; Bl. 8chn. p. 382. 



Platystoma fasciatum, Cm. S,- Val. xv. p. 14; Kner, Sitzitiif/sbcr. Wien. 



Acad. xxvi. p. 401. 

 punctifer, Casteln. Anim. Amer. Sud, p. 40. pi. 19. fig. 2. 



B. 15. D. 1/6. A. 14. P. 1/9. 



The upper jaw projects but little beyond the lower. The maxillarj' 

 barbels extend to, or nearly to, the vcntrals, and the outer ones of 

 the mandible as far, or still further, backwards. Brownish above, 

 ■\\-itli blackish cross-bands edged with silvery ; sometimes a longitu- 

 dinal series of blackish oceUi beloAv the lateral line. 

 Vertical and ventral fins with black dots. Teeth on 

 the palate in four more or less confluent patches : 

 those on the vomer irregularly quadrangular ; those 

 on the palatines band-like, long, tapering behind. 



South America. 



a. Fine specimen. Essequibo. Purchased of 3ilr. Ehrhardt. 

 /'. Half-grown. Surinam. 



<•. Two feet long. River Capin, Para. Piu'chased of Mr. Stevens. 

 d-e. Young. River Capin, Para. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. 



5. Platystoma tigrinum, 



Citv. i^- Val. XV. p. 10. pi. 422. 



B. 1(). D. l/(j. A. 11. P. 1/9. 

 The upper jaw projects but little beyond the lower. The teeth on 

 the palate form one-half of an ellipse, the front part of which is very 

 broad, and produced into an obtuse lobe at its extremity; its branches 

 are prolonged behind. The maxiUary barbels extend to the gill- 

 opening. Dorsal spine not serrated. Body with irregiilar, undulated, 

 transverse blackish-brown bands ; vertical and ventral fins with black 

 dots. (Val.) 

 Brazil. 



(j. Platystoma orbignianum. 



Valenc. in d' Orbit/. Voi/.Amrr. Mh-id. Poisx. pi. 4. fig. 3 ; Chtv. ^Val xv. 

 p. 12. 



B. 17. D. ]/G. A. 14. P. 1/9. 



The upper jaw projects but little beyond the lower. Teeth on the 

 palate in four subcontiguous patches : those on the vomer subtrian- 

 gular ; those on the palatines subcuneiform, tapering beliind. The 

 maxillaiy barbel does not extend to the end of the head, the outer of 

 the mandible reaches to the root of the pectoral. The doi-sal spine 

 is scarcely stouter than the rays, and not serrated : the pectoral .spine 



