THE GYMNOTID EELS OF TROPICAL AMERICA. 139 
blotches of dark brown and black dorsally; many irregular bands of dark brown 
spots and blotches crossing the body and anal; anal heavily marked with black and 
brown spots over a background of cream-white; head dark, mottled with large 
black and small bluish white spots; mental region almost white, pectorals spotted 
with black, brown, and white; caudal peduncle dark chocolate-brown, banded 
with black. 
This species is quite variable in size, markings, and length of snout. It is 
very highly prized as a food-fish. It lives among the roots of the “‘Mucka Mucka”’ 
and a species of Calladium which grow up from the water. It frequents the 
smaller and more open streams, although it is taken less often in the larger ones. 
From the contents of the stomachs examined it seems to live almost entirely on 
mud-inhabiting insect larvee and worms. 
Kaup records this fish as attaining the size of six feet. No such specimens 
were seen and from the accounts of the fishermen questioned it seems rarely to 
exceed four and a half feet. 
The names of “Band Fish”’ and ‘‘ Wabri”’ were given it by my Guiana coolies. 
Distribution: South America, except the Magdalena and Brazilian coastal 
streams. 
VIII. GyMNORHAMPHICHTHYS genus noy. 
Type, Gymnorhamphichthys hypostomus Eis. 
Distinguished from all the other Gymnotids except the electric eel by the 
absence of scales from the anterior part; scales few, confined to the caudal regions; 
snout straight and produced; other points much as in Rhamphichthys. This genus 
contains but a single species. 
12. Gymnorhamphichthys hypostomus Exits. (Plate XXIII, fig. 2.) 
Ellis, in Higenmann, Fishes of British Guiana, Mem. Carn. Mus., Vol. V, p. 436, 
1912. 
Type, 3182 C. M., 215mm. San Joaquim, Sept. 5, 1909, Haseman. 
Cotypes: 
3183 C. M., one, 180 mm. Rio Mamoré, Sept. 19, 1909, Haseman. 
12641 I. U. M., two, 140-145 mm. Konawaruk, EKigenmann. 
3184 C. M., two, 75 and 115mm. Bastos, Rio Mamoré, Aug. 3, 1909, Hase- 
man. 
3185 C. M., one, 80 mm. Maciel, Rio Guaporé, July 29, 1909, Haseman. 
12642 I. U. M., one, 125mm. Puerto Bertoni, Alto Parana, Bertoni. 
12613 I. U. M., three, 95-100 mm. Tumatumari, Kigenmann. 
Head 4.8 to 7.1, depth 12.4 to 13.6 in the length to the end of the anal, anal 
rays 165-210. 
Snout 1.6 to 2; interorbital 8 to 14 in the head; eye 7 to 14 in the snout. 
Body compressed, slender and quite elongate; width of the head 2 to 2.5; 
