of the Island of Trinidad, W. I. 403 



one is reflected backwards, and emarginated in the middle, and 

 the angles on each side of this emargination are generally pro- 

 tracted into two short barbies. A double barbie, which is a 

 prolongation of the maxillary, is present at each angle of the 

 mouth, as in Callichthys, and Hoplostemum. 



First dorsal quadrangular, and opposite the ventrals. 



Second dorsal, a small adipose fin sustained by a single spine, 

 which is preceded by several azygous plates. 



Caudal forked. 



Pectorals rounded. 

 Ventrals subtriangular. 



Humeral plates as in Hoplosternnm, anteriorly contiguous, 

 and with the internal borders abruptly departing from each 

 other at less than a right angle, and leaving the bare skin of 

 the abdomen between their borders of a semi-elliptical form. 



Anus a short distance posterior to the base of the ventrals. 



This genus was first established in 1839, by "William Swain- 

 son, in the work* that we have before had occasion to refer to ; 

 the name is in that work incorrectly written Hoplisoma. The 

 genus was framed for the reception of the Cataphractus punc- 

 tatus of Bloch, which was the only species known at that time. 

 Since then, several species have been added by different 

 zoologists. Those at present known are Hoplosoma paleatum, 

 or the Callichthys paleatus of Jenyns, and the H. splendens and 

 II. taiosh, which were likewise described by Count Castelnau 

 as species of Callichthys. We now add a species from Trinidad 

 very nearly allied to that described by Jenyns. 



Hoplosoma seiieum, Gill. 



Vernacular : Cascadura. 

 Body oblong, highest at the spinous ray of the first dorsal 

 fin, from which the dorsal outline slopes in nearly a straight 



* The Natural History of Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles, or Moaocardian 

 Animals, vol. i., p. 336, and vol. ii , pp. 189, 304. 



