^76 PIMELODUS MACULATUS. 



rivers of Guiana, also in the Rio Negro and Ama- 

 zon; it grows to twelve inches in length, with 



cranium hard, head depressed, dorsal and pectoral 

 spines serrated, a bony process for the pectoral 

 spine to lie against when closed ; opercles striated, 

 with smooth edges ; cirrhi long ; lower jaw a little 

 longer than the upper ; teeth, a series thickly set in 

 both jaw^s ; adipose fin very large ; vent about the 

 middle of the body. The eyes are oval, dull blue, 

 and situate near the middle of the head; nostrils 

 double, — one pair on the snout, the other on the 

 top of the head half-way to the eyes ; the lateral 

 line is nearly straight, running along the middle of 

 the body; ventral fins half-distance between the 

 pectoral and anal. Tliey are said to be much used 

 for food, and are well tasted. The body is without 

 scales, its colour bluish green, with lighter spots, 

 and becomes nearly white on the belly and under 

 part of the head." 



D. 1/6— P. 1/9— Y. 6.— A. 12— Br. 8/' 



No. 5 of Schomburgk's Drawings represents ano- 

 ther species, which also would probably rank with 



