SOUTH AMERICAN NEMATOGNATHI. 209 



Pimelodus fascialum Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. v, 94, 99 and 100, 

 1803. 



Platystoma fascialum Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xv, 14, 1840 

 (copied); Kiier, SB. Ak. Wien, xxvi, 401, 1857 (Surinam); Giin- 

 ther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. v, 107, 1864 (Essequibo; Surinam; 

 KiverCapin, Para); Peters, MB. Ak. Berlin, 469, 1877 (Calabozo); 

 Steindachner, Fisch-fauna Magd. Stromes, 15, 1878 (Magdalen 

 River); Cope, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. xvii, 674, 1878 (Peruvian 

 Amazon); Steindachner, Fisch-fauna Cauca & Fltisse bei Guaya- 

 quil 5, 1879 (Cauca); id. Ichthyol. Beitr. viii, 54 (Surinam); id. 

 Flussfische Siidam. iv, 4, 1882 (Eio Amazonas, Iquitos). 

 Pseudoplatystomafasciatum Bleeker, Nederl, Tijdschr. Dierk. 1863, 

 97 (name only); id. Silures de Suriname, 72, 1864 (Surinam); 

 Eigenm. & Eigenm. Proc. Cal. Acad. 2d Ser. i, 138, 1888 

 (Obidos; Coary; Hyavary). 



Platystoma truncatum Agassiz, Gen. & Spec. Pise. Brazil, 27, plate 

 xiiia. 1829 (Rio Japura & Solimoens). (Plain, dorsal and caudal 

 spotted); Cuv. & Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss. xv, 20, 1840 (Brazil); 

 Hyrtle, Denk. Ak. Wien. xvi, 17, 1859 (vertebras 13+33); Giin- 

 ther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. v, 108, 1864 (copied). 



Platystoma punctifer Castelnau, Anim. Nouv. Rares de 1'Anier. du 

 Sud, 40, pi. xix, fig. 2, 1855 (Amazon). 



Habitat: Amazons and streams north of it. 



The color markings in this, as in the nearest related 

 species, are very conspicuous in certain individuals; 

 those about .40 m. long seem to have the color most dis- 

 tinct. In the smallest and largest specimens the hlack 

 bars are scarcely evident, and the light bars are faint. 

 Platystoma truncatum Agassiz, was based on a specimen 

 .90 m. long, and is doubtless the old form of fasciatus 

 or one of its varieties. 



It is doubtful whether the extreme old of the varieties 

 can be told apart. 



Platystoma punctifer Castelnau does not differ from 

 specimens of fasciatus. 



Body long, slender, terete. Head long, depressed, 

 scarcely narrowed towards the snout; its width at the 

 angle of the mouth 1J in its greatest width, 2| in its 

 length. 

 14 



