DE. GtJNTHEE ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 449 



space nearly flat, but convex above the eyes, and nearly as wide as the eye. The 

 maxillary groove is linear, and extends backwards to a vertical midway between the 

 front of the orbit and pupil, while the scales on each side extend to the vertical from 

 the front of the orbits. The exposed surface of the supermaxillary bones is at first 

 triangular, and thence oblong, the whole twice and a half as long as wide. The height 

 of the constricted portion of the caudal peduncle equals two-thirds of its length and the 

 diameter of the eye. The lateral line is scarcely bent behind. The second and third 

 dorsal spines are slender, and nearly equal half the height of the body beneath ; the 

 last is little more than half as long as the first branched ray. The third anal spine is 

 as long as the snout, and longer and more slender than the second. The colour is 

 silvery ; the spinous dorsal blackish at margin ; the axilla of pectoral blackish. 

 Discovered by Capt. Dow on the Pacific coast of Central America. 



156. ACARA C^RULEOPUNCTATA. 

 Kuer & Steindachner, Sitzgsber. bayer. Akad. 1863, p. 222 ; and Abhandl. bayer. Akad. Wiss. x. 

 p. 16, tab. 2. fig. 3. 



D. ]% A. I L. lat. 27. L. transv. 2i/9. 



10 8 ^ 



Three series of scales on the cheek. Prseorbital scarcely wider than the orbit. The 

 greatest breadth of the head is two-thirds of its length. Cleft of the mouth oblique. 

 Body with four or five indistinct cross bands. A large black blotch on the middle of 

 the sides, and traces of a second on the root of the caudal. Each scale on the side of 

 the head and chest with a bluish spot. 



Two specimens, 5 inches long, were collected by Mr. Salvin in the Eio Chagres. 



Description. — The height of the body is contained twice and a half in the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head rather more than thrice. Nape curved, the 

 profile of the snout straight. Width of the interorbital space two-fifths of the length 

 of the head, and more than that of the snout. Snout broad, moderately elevated, the 

 width of the prseorbital being scarcely more than the diameter of the eye. Cleft of the 

 mouth slightly oblique, not reaching the vertical from the orbit. The fold of the lower 

 lip is interrupted in the middle. Lower limb of prseoperculum more than half the 

 length of the posterior limb. There are only eight series of scales between the throat 

 and the root of the ventral. Dorsal spines of moderate strength, gradually increasing 

 in length posteriorly; the length of the ninth is more than one-third of that of the 

 head. The middle of the soft dorsal and anal produced, and extending beyond the 

 middle of the caudal, which is rounded. Pectoral as long as the head, reaching only 

 to the origin of the anal. Ventral filament rather long. Colours as described above. 



157. Heros PARMA (Gthr.). 

 This species varies considerably in coloration and in form of the body. The cross 

 bands may be entirely absent, and replaced by a large diffuse black blotch on the end 

 VOL. VI. — PART VII. 3 Q 



