378 DE. &UXTHEE ON THE FISHES OF CE.VTEAL AMEEICA. 



§ 2. Topographical Features of the Localities explored. 



As regards the topographical features of the localities explored by Messrs. Uow, 

 Godman, and Salvin, I have been favoured by the latter gentleman, by whom also the 

 accompanying map has been prepared, with the following notes : — 



Lakes. 



Amatitlan. — The Lake of Amatitlan is situated in lat. 14° 29' N., long. 90° 35' W., in 

 the Republic of Guatemala. Its elevation above the sea-level is about 4500 feet. Being 

 only a .short distance on the southern side of the main ridge, it collects the waters of a 

 few small streams, which it discharges at its southern extremity, into the river Michatoya, 

 a mountain-torrent for half its course, then expanding, like aU the rivers of Guatemala 

 which flow into the Pacific, into a broad shallow stream with a shifting sandy bed. 

 The lake is very deep, and its water clear. The volcanoes of Pacaya and Agua rise 

 amongst the mountains of its southern border, the whole forming a landscape of great 

 beauty. Fish are caught during the rainy season near the outlet into the river 

 Michatoya, and are sent to the market of the City of Guatemala. 



Atitlan. — The Lake of Atitlan is elevated 5000 feet above the sea. Like the last- 

 mentioned it lies m Guatemala on the southern side of the main ridge, in lat. 14° 43' N., 

 long. 91° 14' ^\ It has no visible outlet. The water is clear and fresh, and the lake of 

 great depth. The hills on three sides attain to a height of 2000 feet above the lake. 

 On its southern border the two large volcanoes of Tollman and S. Pedro rise, theii- bases 

 being washed on one side by the lake, giving one the idea that one of them (that called 

 Tollman) has in rising acted as a dam and stopped the outflow of the waters of a 

 mountain-valley. A few small streams enter the lake, the water of -which rises during 

 the rainy season, to fall again in the dry. On the mountain-slope below, several streams 

 take their rise, supplied probably by the filtration of water from the lake ; but it would 

 appear, from the alteration of the water-level in accordance with the season of the year, 

 that it is chiefly influenced by evaporation. A number of Indian villages surround the 

 lake ; at one of them, Panajachcl, a small collection of fish was made. Fish never seem 

 to grow to any size in this lake, the Mojara {Heros) being quite diminutive. The 

 Indians fish with round nets amongst the reeds that grow at the mouths of small 

 streams. The lake itself is about twenty-two miles long, and twelve miles wide. 



DuENAS. — This lake is little more than a depression in one of the elevated (5000 ft.) 

 plains forming the tablelands of (iuatemala. Its depth is nowhere more than 6 feet, 

 and its banks are everywhere clothed with reeds. A small stream connects the lake with 

 the river Guacalate. Here, too, fish are caught by the Indians in round nets, which are 

 held by both hands, pushed in amongst the reeds, and suddenly brought to the surface. 



HuAMUCHAL. — This name applies properly to a series of small lakes situated in about 

 lat. 14° 32' N.,long. 92° 13' W., close to one another, about six miles from the mouth of 

 the river Tilapa on the Pacific coast. The place is not shown on any map ; but it is near 



