THE CYPRINODONTS. 71 



Intestine less than twice the total length. Scales medium, flat, harsh. Both 

 sexes rights and lefts. 



Fresh waters of Central America and the northern part of South 

 America, venturing into brackish water near the shores. 



Three species of Anableps are all that are positively known ; these are 

 easily distinguished by their colors or by their scales. Age, sex, or con- 

 dition in the different types causes a considerable amount of modification in 

 structure and appearance, for which allowances must be made. 



More than three narrow bands of browu along the flank ; Page. 



50-55 scales on the lateral line anableps 77 



Less than three bands or uniform ; 



81-90 scales on the lateral line microlepis 78 



A yellow band on mid-flank ; 



64-70 scales on the lateral line Dowii 79 



The fishes of this genus swim at the surface ; their bodies are con- 

 structed to withstand a great amount of buffeting. Integuments and 

 bones are firm and strong. The opercular bones are moderately broad 

 and are closely joined ; with the urohyal and the wide vertical expansion 

 of the shoulder girdle they furnish a rigid and close chamber for the gills. 

 The body walls also are firm. The ribs are short ; the broadness of the back 

 is due to the elongation of the parapophyses, which are wide and concave or 

 troughed and chambered on the upper side. A greater number of vertebrte 

 in these species, than in those of other genera of the family, is in keeping 

 with a greater comparative amount of activity. The evidence of the active 

 Anableps, from the warmest of the waters, taken in connection with that of 

 the more sluggish Orestias, from the cold lakes and streams of the Andes, 

 does not support the conclusion recently advanced that warmer waters and 

 greater activity are productive of a smaller number of vertebrae, but proves, 

 instead, that comparatively the greater number of vertebrse obtains with the 

 greater activity whether in warm waters or in cold. A prevalent idea gives 

 this genus but a single nostril ; there are actually two, the posterior being 

 narrow and vertical and situated near the eye. The jaws are not firmly joined 

 at the symphyses ; the internarial process of the intermaxillaries is short, 

 merely a blunt angle. The maxillaries do not form part of the edge of the 

 mouth ; they do not meet ; the upper half of each is wide, rounded, and 

 extends horizontally toward the middle line in front of the skull. The skull 

 is flattened, except at a strong frontal expansion that arches up and around 



