48 FISHES FROM BRAZIL 



162. Xystaema havana Nichols. 



Six specimens, up to 6 inches in length, collected at Natal and de- 

 scribed in my manuscript as new are referable to this species, the description 

 of which has just appeared. I publish my description as it stands, however, 

 as it contains some additions to Mr. Nichols' description (Notes on Cuban 

 Fishes. Bull. Am. Mus. XXXI. p. 189, Aug. 1912). 



The head is sharp and the body is symmetrical, with no angles and 

 scarcely elevated. The length of the head is contained 3^ times in the 

 length to the caudal base, and the depth 3 times. The diameter of the eye 

 is a little greater than the length of the snout and is contained from 2^ 

 to 3 times in the head. The premaxillary groove is very well defined and 

 narrow, being only a trifle more than half of the pupil at its widest part ; 

 anteriorly it becomes constricted and sometimes nearly closed. The cheek 

 from the eye to the preopercular angle is equal to the diameter of the eye, 

 and the least distance backward from the eye is equal to one-third of the 

 eye. The preopercular and preorbital margins are entire. 



The fin formula is, dorsal IX, 10; anal III, 7 or 8. The second dorsal 

 spine is equal in length to the distance from the front of the eye to the 

 upper angle of the gill opening. The second anal spine is equal in length 

 to the third but is very much stouter ; it is a little longer than the eye. The 

 pectoral does not nearly reach to the anal. There are 45 cross series of 

 scales, and 3^ longitudinal series between the lateral line and the middle 

 of the dorsal. 



The color is plain silvery except in the young of 2 or 3 inches in 

 length, where dusky lines follow the rows of scales longitudinally. 



This species has the typical long simple first interhaemal that distin- 

 guishes Xystcema from Eucinostomiis, but in external characters it is strik- 

 ingly like E. pseudogula. The spines, however, are always stouter and less 

 flexible at the tips, and the premaxillary groove is constricted in front. It 

 differs from Xystcema cinereum, its nearest relative, in being more slender, 

 in having a very narrow premaxillary groove, which is convergent anteriorly 

 rather than broad and divergent, in having no cross bars, and in other minor 

 characters. 



163. Gerres brasilianus (Cuvier and Valenciennes). 



Several specimens were taken in Lake Papary and one at Natal. 



164. Gerres rhombeus Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Specimens were collected at Lake Papary and Natal. . Those from 

 Natal are much darker in color and show traces of dark stripes along the 



