184 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. VII. 



very slender, and so one that is full grown is not large. As a fish 

 for food for man, or for food for other fishes, it is of very little 

 importance. It is reported to spawn during the months of March, 

 April and May. Lake Amatitlan, scarce. 



Family Gyniiiotidse. Eels. 



Qymnotus carapo Linnaeus. Anguilla. 



This fish reaches a length of about 210 mm. It is very 

 slender. During my stay at the lake I saw but three specimens 

 of this species, and was unable to learn much about its habits. 

 I was told that it isorily occasionally taken in the lake, and though 

 it is much prized as a food fish, it is too small, and found in too 

 few numbers, to be of any economic value. This fish inhabits 

 streams from Lake Amatitlan and Rio Motagua to the Rio de la 

 Plata in South America. Lake Amatitlan, scarce. 



Family Characiiiidse. Characins. 



Astyanax micropthalmus Giinther. Pepesca. 



This fish reaches a length of about 140 mm. It is a deep fish 

 of silvery color, with a dark band on the posterior half of the middle 

 of the body. The food of this fish consists almost wholly of 

 insects and insect larvae. These fishes usually go to deep water 

 in the daytime and so seldom are fished for except at night. They 

 are most abundant in the inlets and near the outlet of the lake. 

 The Pepescas are sold in large numbers in the markets at Ama- 

 titlan. They spawn about May, probably April, May and 

 June, I could secure no information in regard to their spawning 

 habits. This fish is too small, and is found in quantities not large 

 enough to be of much economic value. Lake Amatitlan, common. 



Family PcKciliidw. Killikishes. 



Fundulus Kuatemalensis Giinther. Gulumina. 



The (iulumina is a small, nearly cylindrical fish wliich grows 

 to a length of about 85 mm. It is more abundant in the outlet 

 of the lake than in the lake itself. This fish is seldom taken in 

 shallow water along the shores where the Pescaditos arc most 



