DE. GtiNTIlBR ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 429 



wider than the orbit, its width being two-sevenths of the length of the liead. Prae- 

 operculum with straight, widely-set, spinous teeth round its margin, those on or near 

 the angle being slightly tlie strongest. The second dorsal spine is the strongest, the 

 third the longest, its length being more than that of the postorbital portion of the 

 head. The second anal spine is exceedingly strong, about as long as the third dorsal 

 spine, or as the first anal ray. Caudal fin irregularly rounded. Uniform silvery ; top 

 of the spinous dorsal blackish. 



This species appears to be scarce at Panama, Capt. Dow having collected only two 

 examples, of 8 and 6 inches in length. 



65. OtOLITHUS SQUAMIPINNIS. 



I^- 8 1 21-22- A-ro- L-lat. 85. 



Scales rather irregularly arranged ; there are nine longitudinal series between the 

 origin of the first dorsal fin and the lateral line, and five or six between the end of the 

 second dorsal fin and the lateral line. The height of the body is contained four times 

 and one-sixth in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and 

 one-fourth. Lower jaw very prominent, the extent of the snout being contained thrice 

 and one-third in the length of the head. The width of the interorbital space is more 

 than the diameter of the eye, and equals the extent of the upper jaw from the orbit. 

 The maxillary extends to the vertical from the hind margin of the orbit. Prteopercular 

 angle slightly produced, dilated into a membranaceous margin which is faintly striated. 

 The spinous dorsal is longer than high ; the spines are feeble, the length of the third 

 being two-fifths of that of the head. Caudal fin rounded, the middle rays being the 

 longest. The membrane of the soft dorsal and anal fins is covered with small, transpa- 

 rent scales, which form a thickisli cover on the base of these fins. The length of the 

 pectoral is three-fifths of that of the head. Body uniformly coloured, scales on the 

 sides minutely punctulated with brown ; hinder side of the axil of the pectoral brown. 

 Inner membrane of the gill-cover black. Ventral yellowish. 



Two specimens, 10 & 11 inches long, were collected by Capt. Dow at Panama. 



66. Otolithus albus. 

 Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 149. 



D. 10 1 ^. A. 2/9. 

 Scales rather irregularly arranged ; there are seven series between the origin of tlie 

 dorsal fin and the lateral line. Tiie height of the body is one-fourth of the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head two-sevenths. The extent of the snout is one- 

 fourth of the length of the head ; the maxillary extends somewhat beyond the vertical 

 from the posterior margin of the eye. PrcEopercular angle not produced behind. The 

 spinous dorsal is much longer than high ; its spines are feeble, the length of the fourth 



