42S DR. aUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 



fourtli of the length of the head. PrEeopercukim with spinous teeth round its margin ; 

 they are rather widely set and of equally small size. Suprascapular scarcely denticu- 

 lated. The second dorsal spine is scarcely stronger than, and but half as long as, the 

 third, the length of which exceeds somewhat that of the postorbital portion of the 

 head. The second anal spine is very strong, rather shorter than the succeeding ray. 

 and equal in length to the postorbital portion of the head. Caudal fin rounded, with 

 the upper lobe slightly produced. Scales irregularly arranged. Purplish shining 

 silvery ; a purplish brown streak, obliquely ascending backwards, follows the middle of 

 each series of scales. Fins bnnvn. 



A single specimen. 8 inches long, was found by ('apt. Dow at Panama. 



63. CORVIN.V ARMATA. 

 Bairdiella nnmita, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Se. Philad. 186;3. p. I(i4. 



This species, which is evidently allied to C. ronchus, is described thus : — 

 D. 10 1 1 A. =. L. lat. 51. L. transv. 7 TO. 



The height equals a fourth of the total length, of wliicli tlie liead forms a fourth. 

 The caudal fin equals the head behind the front margin of the eye. The diameter of 

 the eye enters four times and a half in the head's length, somewhat exceeds the inter- 

 orbital area, which is scarcely convex, and equals the snout. The fourth dorsal spine 

 is longest, and nearly equals half the head's length ; all are stout and robust. The 

 second dorsal commences nearly above the twentieth scale of the lateral line, or tip of 

 pectoral. The second anal spine is very strong, longer than the first ray, and nearly 

 equals the interval between the front of orbit and opercular fiap ; the soft fin behind is 

 incurved. The pectoral equals the interval between the middle of the pupil and the 

 opercular flap, and the ventral that between the front of the pupil and the same. The 

 colour is hoary above, silvery below ; the fins yellowish ; the vertical, especially the 

 first dorsal, clouded with darker. 



P'ound by Capt. Dow at Panama. 



64. CORVINA OPHIOSCION. 

 Ophioscion typicujf, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1863, p. 1(51. 



D. 10 j 22123- -•^- f I^- Ifit- ■^9- L. transv. j^. 

 The height of the body is nearly equal to the length of the head, and two-sevenths of 

 the total (without caudal). Head rather low, snout obtuse, but prominent, with the 

 upper jaw projecting beyond the lower, the cleft of the mouth being quite at the lower 

 side of the snout. The diameter of the eye equals the extent of the snout, and is two- 

 ninths of the length of the head. The maxillary is entirely hidden by the prieorbital, 

 and extends to below the middle of the orbit. Teeth of the outer series of the upper 

 jaw rather stronger than the others. Interorbital space scarcely convex, only one-third 



