88 THE CYPRINODONTS. 



Gambusia melanopleura. 



Pcecilia melupleura Gosse, 1851, Soj. in Jam., 84, pi. 1, fig. 3; Blk., 1860, Cypr., 486. 

 Haplochitm melanopleunis Gtb., lS66,.Cat., VI, 317. 

 Qambusia melapleiira Jor., 1887, P. U. S. Mus., IX, 5G4. 



D. 11 ; A. 11 ; LI. 31 ; Ltr. 10-9. 



Gosse's figure of this species gives the shape of G. jninctaia with a more 

 convex and regularly rounded caudal, in which the upper portion is a little 

 the longer, and with the origin of the dorsal nearer the middle of the total 

 length and a less distance backward of that of the anal. He gives the 

 formula D. 11 ; A. 10 ; V. 6 ; P. 13 ; LI. 31 ; Ltr. 9. " The body almost 

 pellucid ; olive above ; the sides pearly, with rich amethystine reflections ; 

 green and golden hues prevail on the cheeks and gill covers ; a black baud, 

 rising from the upper side of the base of the pectoral, runs along the side 

 about one third of the length ; the dorsal and caudal are edged with black- 

 ish. Length to two inches." Gunther gives a number of additional 

 particulars. 



Depth three tenths of the length to the base of the caudal ; head three 

 elevenths. Snout broad, blunt. Chin steep ; lower jaw longer. Eye as 

 long as snout, three fifths of interorbital space, one third of head. Dorsal 

 and anal moderate. Dorsal origin midway from front of orbit to tip of tail, 

 above sixteenth scale of lateral line, opposite the middle of the base of the 

 anal. Free portion of tail short, depth equal to distance from dorsal. Sides 

 of abdomen silvery ; the portion above the silvery black. 



Jamaica. 



Gambusia episcopi. 



Plate IV. Fig. 5, teeth. 



Oambuna episcopi Steind., 1S7S, Sb. Ak., Wiss. Wien, LXX\^I, extr. p. 9, pi. 2, fig. 3, 4; Eig., 1893, 

 P. U. S. Mus., XVI, 57. 



B. 6 ; D. 9-8 ; A. 10 ; V. 6 ; P. 13 ; LI. 27-28 ; Ltr. 7-8 ; Vert. 14 -f 16. 



In form this species is not greatly different from G. Holbrookii. The 

 coloration, large scales, large eye, and pointed anal fin in the females, serve 

 as ready means to distinguish it from any others of the genus. Body com- 

 pressed, head depressed, depth of body or length of head about one fourth 

 of the total length. Snout short, not as long as eye, broad, blunt. Chin 

 moderately steep. Mouth medium ; lower jaws longer, firmly united ; upper 

 short, protractile. Teeth conical, hooked, in bands, outer series stronger and 



