1. BATRACIIUS. 173 



neural si^inc of the first vertebra to the upper end of the hiunerus ; 

 it is slighly moveable at both its extremities, and fixes the humerus 

 at a certain horizontal distance from the vertebral column. 



Each pubic bone is formed of two pieces horizontally directed 

 inwards ; the anterior is broad, triangular, the posterior styliform 

 and tapering : the pubic bones are very loosely attached to the 

 humerus. 



There are twelve abdominal and seventeen caudal vertebra;, the 

 length of the former portion of the vertebral column being to that 

 of the caudal as 1 : 1-43. The vertebrae are stout, rather short, and, 

 especially the anterior ones, firmly wedged into one another ; their 

 neural spines are strong, reclining backwards ; the internourals of 

 the spinous dorsal fin are firmly united to the neurals of the third, 

 fourth and fifth vertebraj. The interneurals of the second dorsal, 

 the hismals and interhtemals, and the ribs are feeble. 



8. Batrachus paciflci. 

 D. 3 I 25-26. A. 21-22. V. 1/2. 



Scaly. The length of the head is nearly one-fourth of the total ; 

 the diameter of the eye is more than one-half of the \\adth of the 

 bony bridge between the orbits, or one-ninth of the length of the 

 head. Gill-covers with four spines directed backwards, two at the 

 operculum and two at the suboperculum, the latter being more back- 

 wardly situated than the former. A very slight and short horizontal 

 fold of the skin behind the eye. Teeth on the vomer, the palatines, 

 and on the side of the lower jaw in a single series, obtusely conical ; 

 mandible anteriorly with a patch of vUliform teeth, and with two 

 paii's of strong conical teeth in the outer series. Snout very broad, 

 obtuse, flat and depressed, surrounded by a wreath of tentacles ; no 

 tentacle above the orbit. The maxillary extends far behind the eye. 

 Axil without foramen, but with a pocket-like excavation formed by a 

 fold of the skin ; a wide pore at the inner ba:ic of each pectoral ray. 

 Ventral fiji not quite half so long as the head. Brownish-grey, 

 marbled with darker ; some indistinct blackish bands across the back. 

 Dorsal with about eight oblique, rather irregular blackish bands ; 

 caudal with some indistinct (a-oss-bands ; anal with black margin 

 and \vith some spots posteriorly ; pectoral with blackish spots ; ven- 

 tral blackish. 



Coast of Panama. 



«, h. Adult and half-grown. From Mr. Eraser's Collection. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 8 



Length of the head 2 1 



Width of the head " 2 



Diameter of the eye 2| 



This species appeared to me to be the representative of B. surina- 



