,'356 CHARACINIDiE. 



is contained thrice and tliree-foiirths in the total length (without 

 caudal), the length of the head thrice and one-third. The length of 

 the snout is two-fifths of that of the head, and the maxillary extends 

 to behind the eye. The anal fin commences below the last dorsal 

 rays, and the pectoral does not extend to the ventral. Greenish, 

 with metallic reflexions. (M. 6,' T.) 

 Brazil. 



6. Xiphorhamphus hepsetus. 



Hj'drocyon hepsetus, Cuv. R^gne Anim.; D'Orb. Vot/. Amer, Sud, 

 Poiss. pi. 9. tig. 2. 



falcatus, Quoy ^- Gaim. Voy. JJran. Zool. p. 221. pi. 48. fig. 2. 



Xiphorliynchus hepsetus, Cuv. S,- Val. xxii. p. 34.3. 



D. 11. A. 30. L. lat. 72. 



All the maxillary teeth are equally small. The height of the body 

 is nearly equal to the length of the head, and about two-sevenths of 

 the total (without caudal). The pectoral fin extends to the middle 

 of the ventral. A silvery band along the side ; generally a blackish 

 humeral spot and caudal band. 



Rio Janeiro. 



7. Xiphorhamphus jenynsii. 



Hydrocyon hepsetus, Jeiiyns, Zool. Beagle, Fish. p. 129 (not Cuv.). 

 D. 11. A. 29. V, 8. L. lat. 57-58. L. transv. 16. 



All the maxillary teeth are equally small. The height of the body 

 is equal to the length of the head, and two-sevenths of the total 

 (without caudal). The maxillary extends to the vertical from the 

 posterior margin of the orbit ; the diameter of the eye is four-fifths 

 of the length of the snout, and not qiiite one-fourth of that of the 

 head. The anal fin commences below the last dorsal ray ; the pec- 

 toral extends to the ventral. Bluish silvery, with an indistinct band 

 along the middle of the caudal. {Jenyns.) 



Freshwater lake of Maldonado. 



39. XIPHOSTOMA. 



Xiphostoma, Spix, Pise. Bras. p. 78. 



Dorsal fin placed behind the middle of the length of the body, 

 behind the ventrals ; anal short ; caudal fin emarginate. Head and 

 body elongate, the latter covered with small scales ; belly rounded ; 

 head osseous ; snout produced, conical ; intermaxillary and mandi- 

 bulary bones very long, armed with a single series of very smau 

 teeth, the point of which is directed backwards ; maxiUary short, 

 toothed ; palatine bones with numerous granular minute teeth. Gill- 

 openings very wide, the gill-membranes not luiited below the throat. 

 Intestines with a single circumvolution. 



Tropical America, east of the Andes. 



