PLATYSTOMA PLANICEPS. 187 



this is not noticed by Valenciennes in any of the 

 species above mentioned, nor by Mr. Schomburgk ; 

 but it may have been overlooked by the latter, if 

 not aware of the circumstance, as it appears at first 

 to have been by Schneider himself. The presence 

 of a spine under the gill-covers, and above the pec- 

 toral fins, seems also to remove the want stated by 

 Swainson, " that the Pknelodinw of Tropical Ame- 

 rica want the spine attached to the gill-covers." * 

 This, though not attached, may present the ana- 

 logy- 



The Flat- HEADED Platystoma; Platystoma 

 PLANICEPS, Agas. in Spix^ pi. xii. — Le Platystome 

 a tete plate, Valenc. xv. p. 19. — L. Geral, Pi- 

 ranya-pu. Schomh. Drawings^ No. 32. — Is not 

 found within the boundary of British Guiana, but 

 as one in the Collection of Drawings, is now intro- 

 duced ; it so closely resembles the figure and de- 

 scription of Agassiz, that we consider them identical. 

 "VVe should also remark, that the Indian name ac- 

 companying both specimens is the same; Agassiz 

 reports it as found in the rivers Amazon and 

 Negro. The colour is more of a bluish olive 

 than that represented by Spix ; the lips and lower 

 fins are tinted with pink, and the spots on the dor- 

 sal and pectoral fins are more conspicuous. Our 

 formula of the fins agrees with that of Agassiz in all 

 important parts, but Valenciennes has given 16 rays 

 for the dorsal, which we can only interpret as a 

 misprint. Our notes state, — " This fish is a native 

 * Fishes, vol. i. p. 341. 



