3. HEMiRHAMPmrs. 269 



21. Hemirhamphus pleii. 



? Ilemirhamplius balao, Lesiteur, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sc. PhilaJ. ii. 



p. 136. 

 Hemirhamphus pleii, Cuv. 4" Vol. xix. p. 21. 



D. 14. A. 12-13. L. lat. 55. L. transv. 38/15. 



The length of the entire head is contained twice and two-thirds 

 in the total (without caudal), the length of the lower jaw (fi-oni the 

 extremity of the upper jaw) four times and two-thirds. The trian- 

 gular part of the upper jaw, formed by the iutermaxiUaries, is broader 

 than long. The diameter of the eye equals the width of the inter- 

 orbital space, and is two-thirds of the length of the postorbital part 

 of the head. The root of the ventral fin is conspicuously nearer to 

 the base of the caudal than to the axil of the pectoral. Dorsal and 

 anal fins scaly ; the former much longer than the latter. Caudal fin 

 deeply forked, the central rays being shorter than the eye. Back 

 dark greenish, sides without well- defined silvery band. 



Atlantic coasts of Tropical America. 



a. Adult. St. Croix. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. 



b-c. Adult and half-grown : skins. Jamaica. From Mr. Pamell's 

 Collection. 



d-e. Adult and half-grown. Dominica. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. 



f-h. Half-grown and young. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. 

 Scrivener. 



i. Half-grown and young. Bahia. From Dr. 0. Wucherer's Col- 

 lection. 



22. Hemirhamphus vittatus. 



? Esox brasiliensis, SI. taf. 391. 



Hemirhamphus vittatus, Valenc. in Webb Si" Berthel. lies Canar. Poiss. 

 p. 70. 



D. 13-14, A. 10-11. L. lat. 57-63. 



The length of the entire head is contained twice and three-fifths 

 in the total (without caudal), the length of the lower jaw (beyond the 

 extremity of the upper jaw) nearly five times. The triangiilar part 

 of the upper jaw, formed by the intermaxillaries, is much broader than 

 long. The diameter of the eye equals the width of the interorbital 

 space, and is two-thirds of the length of the postorbital part of the 

 head. The root of the ventral fin is rather nearer to the base of the 

 caudal than to the axil of the pectoral. Dorsal and anal fins scaly ; 

 the former much longer than the latter. Caudal fin deeply forked, 

 the central rays being shorter than the eye. Back dark greenish, 

 sides without well-defined silvery band*. 



"West Coast of Africa ; Canary Islauds. 

 a. Adult. Niger Expedition. From Mr. Eraser's Collection. 

 h. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 



* Bloch and Valenciennes mention dark cross bands, no trace of which is 

 visible in our specimens. 



