10 ON SPECIES OF GASTEROPELECUS. 



a third band parallel with the other two passes through 

 the base of the pectoral from the breast to the lateral line ; 

 and a narrow stripe of light color edged with darker, ex- 

 tends along the vertebral column on each flank. Usually 

 there are several indistinct spots of darker color on the 

 back, above the light stripe, one of which is situated at 

 the hinder end of the base of the dorsal. A couple of 

 short streaks of dark from the chin appear to meet in an 

 acute angle just behind the eye. The thoracic bands are 

 separated from each other by bands of light color equally 

 wide. In coloration this form resembles to some extent 

 G. strigatus of Giinther which is said to have four blackish 

 bands on the thorax, radiating from the middle of its con- 

 vex edge, in addition to a blackish band along the base 

 of the anal fin, and the formula is D. 9, A. 27, L.I. 25. A 

 large number of specimens have been examined, but 

 without discovering one on which there were less than 

 thirty scales in the lateral line. Specimens from Lake 

 Saraca have faint markings, those from Cudajas have 

 them more distinct, but yet appearing faded, while the 

 darkest and most vivid are on those from Manacapouru 

 and Tabatinga. 



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