99. LORICARIA. 257 



The lower side of the head naked. Scutes of the head and nape 

 rough, but without keels ; there are six lateral scutes between ven- 

 tral and pectoral fins • the scutes covering the thorax and belly are 

 regularly arranged in transverse series. The origin of the dorsal fin 

 is before the vertical from the base of the ventral ; its first ray is 

 slightly prolonged ; none of the caudal rays prolonged. 

 Brazil (Rio Branco). 



*** Sides of the head with erectile bristles. 



7. Loricaria barbata. 

 Kner, Loricar. p. 23. taf. 5. 



Snout long and narrow ; eye small ; orbit without posterior notch ; 

 the diameter of the eye is one-third of the width of the interorbital 

 space. Teeth small, numerous in both jaws. Opercles and the 

 marginal scutes of the head with a band of erectile bristles. Scutes 

 of the nape not keeled, the middle of the abdomen with three longi- 

 tudinal series of scutes. The origin of the dorsal fin is somewhat in 

 advance of that of the ventrals. (Kner.) 



River Cujaba. 



/3. Teeth rudimentary, visible only in the lower jaTC ox entirely absent. 

 * Snout broad, of moderate length, 



8. Loricaria maculata. 



Plecostomus, sp., Growv. Mus. Ichth. i. p. 25. no. 68, and Zoophyl. 



no. 391. tab. 2. 

 Loricaria maculata, Block, tab. 375. fig. 1; Valenc in cPOrb. Voy. Amer, 



M&rid. Pois8. pi. 6. fig. 3 ; Cuv. fy Vat.xv. p. 47 a ; Kner, Loricar. p. 16. 



amazonica$ Casteln. Anim. Am&. Bud, Poiss. p. 46. pi. 23. fig. 2. 



Plecostomus cataphractus, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 158. 



Snout broad, of moderate length ; eye rather small, its vertical 

 diameter being equal to, or somewhat less than, one-half of the width 

 of the interorbital space, which is flat ; posterior margin of the orbit 

 with a deep notch, which is nearly as large as the eye. Teeth minute, 

 and sometimes lost in one. or in both jaws. Labial fold very broad, 

 fringed behind. The lower side of the head naked. The scutes on 

 the nape smooth, or with scarcely visible keels. L. lat. 31-32. 

 There are five lateral scutes between the pectoral and ventral fins. 

 The scutes with which the thorax and belly are covered are regularly 

 arranged in transverse series. The two lateral ridges coalesce on or 

 near the twentieth lateral shield. The origin of the dorsal fin is a 

 little behind the vertical from the base of the outer ventral ray. The 

 upper caudal ray slightly prolonged. Body with blackish spots, fins 

 black-dotted. 



Brazil and Guianas. 



a-b. Fine specimens. British Guiana. 



c. Adult: stuffed. Surinam. 



d. Adult : bad state. Purchased of Mr. Bartlett. 

 vol. v. 



