DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 429 
wider than the orbit, its width being two-sevenths of the length of the head. Pre- 
operculum with straight, widely-set, spinous teeth round its margin, those on or near 
the angle being slightly the strongest. ‘The second dorsal spine is the strongest, the 
third the longest, its length being more than that of the postorbital portion of the 
head. The second anal spine is exceedingly strong, about as long as the third dorsal 
spine, or as the first anal ray. Caudal fin irregularly rounded. Uniform silvery; top 
of the spinous dorsal blackish. 
This species appears to be scarce at Panama, Capt. Dow having collected only two 
examples, of 8 and 6 inches in length. 
65. OTOLITHUS SQUAMIPINNIS. 
W078 eet ore. bes lat. 8d: 
Scales rather irregularly arranged; there are nine longitudinal series between the 
origin of the first dorsal fin and the lateral line, and five or six between the end of the 
second dorsal fin and the lateral line. The height of the body is contained four times 
and one-sixth in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and 
one-fourth. Lower jaw very prominent, the extent of the snout being contained thrice 
and one-third in the length of the head. The width of the interorbital space is more 
than the diameter of the eye, and equals the extent of the upper jaw from the orbit. 
The maxillary extends to the vertical from the hind margin of the orbit. _Preeopercular 
angle slightly produced, dilated into a membranaceous margin which is faintly striated. 
The spinous dorsal is longer than high; the spines are feeble, the length of the third 
being two-fifths of that of the head. Caudal fin rounded, the middle rays being the 
longest. The membrane of the soft dorsal and anal fins is covered with small, transpa- 
rent scales, which form a thickish cover on the base of these fins. ‘The length of the 
pectoral is three-fifths of that of the head. Body uniformly coloured, scales on the 
sides minutely punctulated with brown ; hinder side of the axil of the pectoral brown. 
Inner membrane of the gill-cover black. Ventral yellowish. 
Two specimens, 10 & 11 inches long, were collected by Capt. Dow at Panama. 
66. OTOLITHUS ALBUS. 
Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 149. 
D.10\5- A. 2/9. 
Scales rather irregularly arranged ; there are seven series between the origin of the 
dorsal fin and the lateral line. ‘The height of the body is one-fourth of the total length 
(without caudal), the length of the head two-sevenths. The extent of the snout is one- 
fourth of the length of the head; the maxillary extends somewhat beyond the vertical 
from the posterior margin of the eye. Preopercular angle not produced behind. ‘The 
spinous dorsal is much longer than high ; its spines are feeble, the length of the fourth 
