76 FISHES FROM BRAZIL 



one on the upper part of each eye-ball, and a short simple one at the nape 

 about one diameter of the eye in front of the dorsal. The spinous dorsal 

 is equal in length to the soft dorsal, and the spines are considerably lower 

 than the longest rays. The membrane of the anal fin is deeply incised, and 

 the posterior rays of both the anal and soft dorsal reach to, or beyond, the 

 base of the caudal. The pectoral fin reaches to opposite the front of the 

 anal. The caudal is broadly rounded and very slightly angulated at its 

 outer rays. 



When the pools containing fishes of this species were poisoned with 

 chloride of lime they immediately left the water and proceeded over the land 

 toward the next pool or the sea, progressing by a series of rapid hops made 

 by curving the body and suddenly straightening it out, thus jumping from 

 the caudal fin. They progressed over the sand at a rather surprising rate 

 of speed. 



Family PLEURONECTID^. 



224. Syacium micrunun Banzani. 



A single specimen taken at Natal. 



225. Citharichthys spilopterus Gunther. , 



A few specimens taken in the harbor at Natal and one at Para. They 

 differ from each other conspicuously in depth of color. 



Family SOLEID^. 



226. Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus). 



A few small specimens were taken on the sand beaches about Natal. 

 The pectoral is longer than described in current descriptions (3 times in the 

 head). It is composed of 5 rays, with the middle ray produced, or in one 

 case the second ray from the top is produced, and its length varies from 

 almost half as long as the head to a little more than half as long. In all 

 of them the caudal is abruptly lighter and covered with round dark spots. 

 The eyed side is profusely supplied with hair-like sensory papillae, some of 

 which are arranged in vertical lines. 



227. Achirus achirus (Linnasus). 



This species, which has hitherto been known principally from the 

 description of Dr. Gunther {Solea gronovii Giinther, Cat. IV, p. 472), was 

 found in abundance at Lake Papary, where the fishermen secured many speci- 

 mens by the aid of cast-nets. Specimens were also taken in the market at 



