19. GIRARMNUS. 351 



caudal). The diameter of the eye i.s more than the length of the 

 snout, and one-third of the length of the head. The dorsal fin is 

 rather large, longer than high, and its origin is a little nearer to 

 the root of the caudal than to the extremity of the snout. Anal 

 small, its origin being opposite to the middle of the dorsal. Caudal 

 rounded; the free portion of the tail is short and high, its least 

 depth being equal to the length of the head or to the distance be- 

 tween dorsal and caudal. The pectoral extends considerably beyond 

 the root of the ventral, and the ventral reaches the origin of the 

 anal. 



Brownish olive, with a roundish black spot on the middle of the 

 root of the caudal ; a blackish spot on the middle of the side of the 

 trunk. Dorsal sometimes densely spotted with black ; the lower 

 margin of the anal and the upper and lower margins of the caudal 

 black. 



Mexico. 



a-b. One inch and a half long. From M. Salle's Collection. 



19. GIRAEDINUS. 



Girardinus, Poey, Mem. Cub. i. (1851) p. 383. 



Cleft of the mouth small, mandible very short, with the bones not 

 united, the dentary being moveable. Snout not produced, with the 

 lower jaw more or less prominent. Both jaws with a single Series 

 of slender, moveable, pointed teeth, contracted at the base. Scales 

 rather large. Origin of the anal fin generally in advance of, rarely 

 opposite to, that of the dorsal. Anal fin of the male modified into 

 an intromittent organ and much advanced. Intestinal tract with 

 numerous convolutions. Mud-oating. 



West Indies ; Southern parts of North America. 



1. Girardinus uninotatus. 



Poey, Mem. Cub. ii. (1858) p. 309. 



B.5. D. 9. A. 11. L.lat.35. 



The height of the body is one-fifth of the total length (with the 

 caudal), the length of the head two-elevenths or one-sixth. Eye 

 longer than the snout, and contained twice and tkree-fourths in the 

 length of the head. The dorsal fin of the female commences in the 

 middle of the total length ; ventrals reaching the vent. Anal pro- 

 cess of the male very long, equal in length to its distance from the 

 end of the snout, terminating in a clasper. Greenish brown, with a 

 large round spot on the side, opposite the vent. (Poey.) 



Cuba ; river Tacotaco. 



2. Girardinus metallicus. 

 Poey, I. c. p. 387, lam. 31. figs. 8-11. 



B. 5. D. 9. A. 11. y. 6. L.lat.30. Vert. 13/20. 

 The height of the body is somewhat more than the length of the 



