BARBOUR AND COLE: REPTILIA FROM YUCATAN. 147 



to our knowledge of the herpetology of Yucatan. Of the fishes less is 

 known. The expedition of the Albatross to Cozumel Island resulted in 

 a report on the fauna of that area ; beyond this, however, little seems to 

 have been published of the coast fishes. The fresh-water hshes are very 

 few in number; that they are of great interest will be observed by exam- 

 ining the list which follows. Their distribution in the cenotes at Chichen- 

 Itza is of especial interest. In the Sacred Cenote and in another cenote 

 some three or four miles to the eastward and known as " Ikil " occur two 

 entirely distinct species of catfishes, both of which, moreover, are new 

 to science. Their habits are entirely distinct, as well as their specific 

 morphological characters. This fact would appear to preclude the notion 

 that these cenotes are connected by underground streams. On the other 

 hand the " mojarra," Hews urophthalmus, occurs in both the Sacred 

 and the great Cenote at Chichen-Itza, and is probably widely distributed 

 throughout the peninsula. It is common in the brackish waters of the 

 cienaga at Progreso. It has previously been reported only from Lake 

 Peten, in Guatemala. This fish is used extensively for food and it is 

 possible that the Indians have aided in its dissemination. One other 

 species, Heros ajfinis, found in the cienaga, has been known previously 

 only from Lake Peten. 



Only a word is necessary to explain the apparent faunal relationships 

 of the lower vertebrates of the Yucatan peninsula. Its fauna is, as would 

 be expected, made up of typical species abundant in Mexico and in Central 

 America. A few of the species are peculiar to the region. They, how- 

 ever, show no such special modifications as might have developed from 

 peculiar local conditions, so that it seems reasonable to expect that with 

 further investigation they may be found in the neighboring regions. In 

 this way the lower vertebrates differ from the birds and mammals, which 

 appear to have developed numerous local geographical races peculiar to 

 Yucatan. 



It is our pleasure to acknowledge our indebtedness to Dr. Leonhard 

 Stejneger, Dr. B. W. Evermann, Mr. Samuel Garman, and Dr. Alex. G. 

 Ruthven for advice and assistance in identification. 



REPTILIA. 



TESTUDINATA. 

 1. Cistudo mexicana (Gray). 

 Two examples from Chichen-Itza, Yucatan — an alcoholic specimen taken 

 April 8, and a dried carapace. 



