DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 415 
mouth small, the maxillary extending to the vertical from the anterior margin of the 
orbit. Lips thick; a pair of pores on the symphysis of the lower jaw, a central groove 
behind it. Snout naked, the remainder of the head being scaly. The width of the 
interorbital space is much less than that of the orbit. Dorsal and anal spines exceed- 
ingly strong; the third of the dorsal fin is the longest, and nearly two-thirds as long as 
tne head. ‘The second anal spine is much longer than the third, and a little shorter 
(but stronger) than the third of the dorsal fin. Each ray of the soft fins is accompanied 
by a series of minute scales, but only on the caudal fin are these scales dense enough 
to cover the rays. Caudal fin slightly emarginate. Silvery, with four black cross 
bands; the first runs from the occiput, through the eye, to behind the angle of the 
mouth, the second from before the dorsal fin to below the base of the pectoral, the 
third from the base of the sixth, seventh, and eighth dorsal spines to the vent; the 
fourth descends from the origin of the soft dorsal to that of the soft anal. Fins 
blackish. The cross bands appear to become fainter in old age. 
‘lwo specimens, 85 and 9 inches long, in the collection from Panama. 
25. PRISTIPOMA CHALCEUM. 
Giimth. Proc. Zool. Soe. 1864, p. 146. 
DG As. L. lat. 56. LL. transv. 11/19. 
The height of the body is contained twice and two-thirds in the total length (without 
caudal), the length of the head thrice and a third. The diameter of the eye is nearly 
equal to the width of the interorbital space, and two-thirds of the extent of the snout. 
The maxillary does not extend backwards to the vertical from the anterior margin of 
the orbit. Praoperculum minutely serrated behind, with the angle rounded, but not 
produced. ‘There is no notch between the spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fin, 
the hinder spines being only a little shorter than the anterior rays; dorsal spines of 
moderate strength, the fourth being the longest, not quite half as long as the head; 
anal spines short, the second being only a little longer than the third, two-sevenths of 
the length of the head. Caudal fin subtruncated, scarcely emarginate. Dorsal and 
anal perfectly scaleless. The pectoral fin extends to the vertical from the vent. 
Bronze-coloured, shining silvery, perfectly immaculate; vertical fins blackish, with an 
indistinct light band along the base. 
One specimen, 8 inches long, was discovered by Messrs. Dow and Salvin on the 
Pacific coast of Panama. 
26. PRISTIPOMA HUMILE. 
Kner & Steindachner, Sitzgsber. Ak. Wiss. Miinch. 1863, p. 222; and Abhandl. bayer. Ak. Wiss. x. 
p. 3, tab. 1. fig. 1. 
Dig 0 Anz. L, lat. 56... L. tranay.. 5.65. 
The height of the body is contained thrice and two-thirds in the total length (without 
Cec. pyl. 3. 
