7. HERos. 295 



The eye is situated immediately below the upper profile, in the middle 

 of the length of the head. Opercles scaly ; suboperculum of moderate 

 width, with one series of scales. 



The vertical fins are scaly at the base ; dorsal spines of moderate 

 length, the length of the twelfth being two-fifths of that of the head. 

 The points of the soft dorsal and anal extend bej'ond the middle of 

 the caudal. Caudal rounded. The distance between dorsal and 

 caudal is considerably less than the depth of the free portion of the 

 tail. The pectoral is much shorter than the head, and extends to 

 , the fifth anal spine ; ventral pointed. The distance between the vent 

 and the root of the ventrals is two-fifths of the length of the head. 



Dark-greenish-olive, with a black band, edged with yellow, run- 

 ning from the snout, thi'ough the eye, to the root of the caudal ; it 

 is most distinct on the head, but interrupted on the tail by lighter 

 interspaces ; it passes a black lateral spot, and, in yoimg specimens, 

 terminates in another black spot. A blue horizontal line below the 

 orbit ; a more or less distinct black ocellus on the suboperculum. 

 Fins blackish, immaculate. The sides below the black band are san- 

 guineous in matm'e specimens. 



The largest specimen is 4^ inches long. 



17. Heros microphthalmus. 

 D. 1|. A. f=^. L. lat. 34. L. transv. 5/14. 



The fold of the lower lip is continuous in the middle ; six series of 

 scales on the cheek. Brownish, with indistinct dark cross-bands, 

 and w4th a dark band along the sides and tail, terminating at a l)lack 

 spot in the middle of the root of the caudal. Each scale on the 

 lateral and lower parts with a purple sjDot at the base. The soft 

 portions of the vertical fins with series of blackish dots ; axil of the 

 pectoral orange -coloured. 



Guatemala. 



a-c. Seven and eight inches long. From the Collection of Messrs. 

 Godman and Salvin. 



Description. — The height of the body is contained twice and a 

 third in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head 

 thrice and a third. Head as high as long ; snout of moderate ex- 

 tent ; prasorbital wider than the eye, the diameter of which is one- 

 fifth, or rather less than one-fifth, of the Icngili of the head. Cleft of 

 the mouth rather narrow, horizontal, ^^'ith the jaws ot^ual anteriorly, 

 and with the maxillary not extending baclvwards to tlie vertical from 

 the front margin of the eye. Teeth in a band, tho: e of the outei' 

 series being somewhat enlarged. . Interorbital space very convex, 

 twice as broad as the orbit ; the eye is a little nearer to the extre- 

 mity of the snout than to that of the opcrcle. 



Vertical fins scaly at the base ;• th(! spinous dorsal is low, the 

 length of tho twelfth spine being one-thii'd, or rather less than one- 

 third, of that of the head. The soft dorsal aiul anal ;iic somewhiit 



