412 Synopsis of the Fresh Water Fishes, 



body, and under the anterior third of the dorsal. Twelve 

 rows of scales cross the body, and the lateral line runs through 

 about forty. 



D. U. A. 11. C. 17. P. 10. Y. 8. 



The back and sides are purplish brown ; the abdomen whitish. 

 The rays of the dorsal are spotted with from four to six blotches, 

 of the color of the body, which also stain the membrane on 

 each side ; between the blotches, the rays are yellow ; the re- 

 mainder of the fin is immaculate. The rays of the caudal are 

 yellow, interrupted by from five to seven irregular broad bands 

 of the color of the body, which are also continued on the mem- 

 brane. Anal pearly, crossed by about four purplish-brown 

 bands; the ventrals and pectorals have the same distribution of 

 color as the dorsal. 



This species is most closely allied to M. tareira, Yal., differ- 

 ing chiefly in the absence of the ruddy or yellow spots distri- 

 buted on the back and sides of that species, and in the different 

 color of the fins; the Trinidad species is also more slender in 

 its proportions than the M. tareira, and its eyes are larger. 



Genus. 

 Ekythkinus, Gronov., Mull. 



Body oblong, sub-compressed, covered by large scales ; dor- 

 sal and abdominal outlines slightly arched. 



Head large, broad, compressed, with a rounded muzzle. The 

 whole cheek is covered by six sub-orbital plates, behind the 

 last of which are two supra-temporals. 



Mouth large, with the gape oval, wide; jaws nearly equal; 

 the upper formed by the intermaxillaries above, and by the 

 maxillaries, which are articulated to their ends, on the side. 



Teeth in single rows on the intermaxillaries, maxillaries, and 

 dentaries ; these are conical, and on the intermaxillaries one or 



