DE. GtJNTHER ON THE PISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 413 



Messrs. Dow and Salvin have collected several examples, from 3 to 8 inches long, on 

 the Pacific coast of Panama. 



The species described by Holbrook as S. maculatas, and said to have the dorsal 

 spines separated from the soft portion, may eventually prove to be identical with the 

 Pacific fish. 



19. Mesoprion aratus. 

 Giiiith. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 145. 



D. ^^. A. |. L. lat. 45. L. transv. 4^/12. 



The height of the body equals the length of the head, and is contained thrice and 

 two-fifths, or thrice and one-fifth in the total (without caudal). The maxillary does not 

 extend backwards to the vertical from the centre of the eye. Praeoperculum finely 

 serrated, with scarcely a trace of a posterior notch. Dorsal spines of moderate strength ; 

 the third and fourth are the longest, two-fifths of the length of the head ; the eleventh 

 is scarcely longer than the tenth, which is rather more than half as long as the fourth. 

 Caudal fin emarginate, two-thirds scaly ; anal spines short, rather feeble, the third 

 longer than the second, and equal in length to the last dorsal spine. Upper and 

 lateral parts brownish-olive, each scale with a pearl-coloured spot, the spots forming 

 together very distinct longitudinal stripes ; no black lateral spot ; hind part of the root 

 of the pectoral brown. Lower parts salmon-coloured.. 



We have six examples : two, 15 inches long, were collected by Mr. Salvin at Chiapam ; 

 and four others were sent by Capt. Dow from the Pacific coast of Panama. 



21. Apogon dovii. 

 Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 371. 



D. &\\. A. |. L. lat. 25. L. transv. 3/9. 



A roundish black spot on each side of the root of the caudal ; the spinous dorsal 

 colourless, ti'ansparent ; uniform olive (in spirits). Head densely punctulated witli 

 brown. Only the hind margin of the posterior prseopercular ridge is serrated. Dorsal 

 fins nearly equal in height. 



The height of the body is one-third of the total length (without caudal) ; the length 

 of the head two-fifths ; eye large, its diameter being more than one-third of the length 

 of the head. Palatine and vomerine teeth present. The upper jaw overlaps slightly 

 the lower ; maxillary extending backwards to below the posterior third of the orbit. 

 Operculum with an upper flexible point, and with a lower stiff" spine. The third dorsal 

 spine is a little longer than the second, one-half the length of the head. Caudal fin 

 slightly emarginate, with the angles rounded. 



Total length 26 lines. 



This species is so closely allied to A. inermis from the Mediterranean, tliat perhaps 



