486 DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 
above and below by a blue band; the second, without bands, has the body covered all 
over with irregular black spots. 
The figures are of the natural size. The specimens are from an affluent of the 
Chisoy River,—fig. 4 representing an adult male of a variety, fig. 2 an adult female, 
fig. 5 a male approaching to maturity, fig. 3 an adult female of a variety; finally, fig. 6 
represents a Mexican example, half-grown male. 
266. GIRARDINUS PLEUROSPILUS. (Plate LXXXVII. fig. 1.) 
Giinth. Fish. vi. p. 353. 
Diss ANS V0. Telaty2sa. Wi transy. 8: 
The height of the body is somewhat more than the length of the head, which is one- 
fourth of the total (without caudal); the diameter of the eye is more than the length 
of the snout, one-third of that of the head, and two-thirds of the width of the inter- 
orbital space, which is slightly concave. In the female the origin of the dorsal fin is in 
the middle of the total length, and conspicuously behind that of the anal fin. Caudal 
fin large, longer than the head, subtruncate behind; the free portion of the tail is 
somewhat elongate, the length of the base of the anal being one-third of its distance 
from the caudal. Pectoral fin not quite as long as the head, and not extending as far 
backwards as the ventral fins, which reach the vent. 
In the male the origin of the dorsal is somewhat nearer the extremity of the caudal 
than that of the snout; the anal process is quite straight, nearly twice as long as the 
head, and terminating in a simple tapering point. Caudal very short. Reddish olive; 
a series of six or seven round blackish spots, each about the size of the eye, runs along 
the middle of the side, a black line along the base of the anal fin and the lower and 
upper margins of the tail. Caudal fin with two indistinct dark cross bands. 
Mr. Salvin has discovered this species in the Lake of Duejias. Females attain to a 
length of 2 inches, males to half that size only. 
267. ScLEROGNATHUS MERIDIONALIS. 
Giinth. Fish. vii. p. 23. 
D. 29-30. <A.10. L. lat. 38. L. transv. 74/74. 
Mouth small, inferior, slightly corrugated. The height of the body is contained 
thrice and one-half or thrice and one-fourth in the total length (without caudal), the 
length of the head four times or four times and one-half. Head not much longer than 
high. Eye rather small, one-fifth of the length of the head, and two-thirds of that of 
the snout. Suborbitals narrow. ‘The anterior dorsal rays are not much produced, 
being shorter than the head. Caudal fin forked. ‘The origin of the ventral fin is 
vertically below the fourth dorsal ray. Pectoral fin not extending to ventral. . There 
are five longitudinal series of scales between the lateral line and the root of the ventral. 
