464 DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 
slightly scaly at the base. The soft dorsal and anal do not reach to the middle of the 
caudal. Caudal rounded. The distance between the dorsal and caudal is much less 
than the depth of the free portion of the tail. Pectoral short, more than half the 
length of the head, and extending only to the origin of the anal; ventral with the 
outer ray slightly produced, reaching beyond the vent. The distance between the vent 
and the root of the ventral is not quite half the length of the head. 
180. Heros MICROPHTHALMUS. 
Ginth. Fish. iv. p. 295. 
18 
Weaas he — L. lat. 34. L. transv. 5/14. 
The fold of the lower lip is continuous in the middle; six series of scales on the 
cheek. The height of the body is contained twice and a third in the total length 
(without caudal), the length of the head thrice and a third. Head as high as long; 
snout of moderate extent; preorbital wider than the eye. Cleft of the mouth rather 
narrow, horizontal, with the jaws equal anteriorly. Interorbital space very convex, 
twice as broad as the orbit;-the eye is a little nearer to the extremity of the snout 
than to that of the opercle. Vertical fins scaly at the base; the spinous dorsal is low, 
the length of the twelfth spine being one-third or rather less than one-third of that of 
the head. The free portion of the tail is rather higher than long. Pectoral much 
shorter than the head, equal in length to the ventral, which does not extend on to the 
vent. Brownish, with indistinct dark cross bands, and with a dark band along the sides 
and tail, terminating at a black spot in the middle of the root of the caudal. Each 
scale on the lateral and lower parts with a purple spot at the base. The soft portions 
of the vertical fins with series of blackish dots; axil of the pectoral orange-coloured. 
Numerous examples, from 4 to 8 inches long, were collected by Mr. Godman in the 
Rio Motagua. 
181. Heros oBLonaus. 
18 6 
D. gas A. gp L. lat. 33. L. trangv/.53/15. 
Closely allied to //. microphthalmus, but with the body considerably more elongate. 
The fold of the lower lip is continuous in the middle; five series of scales on the 
cheek. The height of the body is one-third of the total length (without caudal), the 
length of the head two-sevenths. Mouth small, horizontal, with the jaws equal in 
length. The length of the twelfth dorsal spine is less than one-third of that of the 
head. Coloration as in H. microphthalmus. 
Two examples, 7 and 8 inches long, were obtained by Mr. Godman from the Rio 
Motagua. 
Description Head a little longer than high; snout of moderate extent; preorbital 
wider than the eye, the diameter of which is one-fifth of the length of the head. Cleft 
of the mouth rather narrow, horizontal, with the jaws equal anteriorly, and the maxil- 
