114 Field Columbian Museum — -Zoology, Vol. VII. 



diameter of eye 3.2 to 4.2; dorsal fin in advance of anal, midway 

 between base of caudal and posterior margin of eye ; dorsal fin in old 

 males extremely high, its longest ray longer than head; least depth 

 of caudal peduncle i.i to 1.6 in head; intestinal canal coiled on right 

 side, very elongate. 



Color variable, usually dusky brown above, lighter below; edges 

 of scales usually light, forming more or less indistinct lateral stripes; 

 males usually have light vertical bars. 



This species is very abundant in Lakes Managua, Nicaragua and 

 Tiscapa. 



Momotomba (200), 55 to 115 mm.; Managua (12), 60 to 125 mm.; 

 Tiscapa (90), 35 to 955 mm.; San Francisco (80), 80 to 120 mm.; 

 Jenicero (25), 40 to no mm.; Cisplaya (30), 90 to 130 mm. 



Family Atheriiiidse. 



Genus Melaiiiris Meek. 



Melaniris sardina sp. nov. Sardina. 



Chirostoma guatemalensis Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.. Phila., 1877, 

 187, Lake Nicaragua (nee Giinther). 



Type, No. 5937, F. M. N. H.; length, 65 mm. ; Lake Managua, 

 Managua, Nicaragua. 



Head 4.25; depth 4.43; D. iii or iv-9 or 10; A. 20 to 23; scales 

 9-37 to 39. Body elongate, moderately compressed; mouth small, 

 very oblique; teeth well developed; snout short, 4.00 in head; 

 mandible strong, its length 2.40 in head; eye large, its diameter 

 2.65 in head; interorbital width 2.40 in head; spinous dorsal low, its 

 origin behind origin of anal, midway between base of caudal and the 

 posterior margin of opercle ; origin of anal fin midway between base 

 of caudal and middle of eye, its base about % longer than head ; scales 

 with margins smooth or slightly crenate ; posterior portion of lateral 

 line usually complete on the last 6 to 10 scales, its anterior portion 

 represented by pores scattered on anterior scales on lower half of body. 



Color silvery, dorsal region with dark punctulations ; sides with a 

 narrow plumbeous band, best developed on posterior half of body; 

 iris black; soft dorsal slightly dusky, other fins plain. 



This species differs from Melaniris balsanus Meek in having a 

 larger eye, smaller and more oblique mouth. It is also a slightly 

 larger fish. 



This species was found to be very abundant along the shores of 

 Lake Managua and northern end of Lake Nicaragua. It spawns in 



