452 DE. GUNTHEH OX THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA: 



length of the head nearly one-third. Head a little higher than long; snout of 

 moderate extent, its length being two-fifths of that of the head. The diameter of the 

 eye is two-sevenths of the length of the head, two-thirds of that of the snout, and less 

 than the width of the interorbital space, which is convex ; the eye is situated below 

 the upper profile, a little nearer to the extremity of the operculum than to that of the 

 snout. Prffiorbital as wide as the orbit. Dorsal spines of moderate length and strength, 

 the length of the twelfth being contained twice and a third in that of the head. The 

 distance between dorsal and caudal is less than the depth of the tail. Greenish olive, 

 with nine dark vertical bands ; a large, roundish black spot on the middle of the root 

 of the caudal ; no spot on the temple ; caudal and the posterior part of the dorsal and 

 anal with whitish spots. 



Three examples were collected by Messrs. Salvin and Godman at Yzabal and in the 

 Rio Motagua. Length 3i inches. 



163. Herds xigrofasciatus. (Plate LXXIV. fig. 3.) 

 D. ¥• A. ^. L. lat. 29. L. transv. 4/11. 



o 7 



The lower lip is interrupted in the middle. Scales on the cheek in four or five series. 

 Dark blackish brown, with nine deep-black cross bands. 



Numerous examples, from 2 to 3^ inches long, were collected by Mr. Salvin in the 

 Lakes of Amatitlan and Atitlan. 



Description. — The height of the body is contained twice and one-sixth in the total 

 length (without caudal), the length of the head thrice ; the free portion of the tail is 

 considerably deeper than long. Head as high as long, with the upper profile convex 

 to the snout, where it is straight. Snout of moderate extent, the width of the prte- 

 orbital being equal to that of the orbit. The eye is somewhat nearer to the end of the 

 snout than to that of the operculum ; its diameter is considerably less than the width 

 of the interorbital space, and one-fourth of the length of the head. Jaws equal in 

 length. The soft dorsal and anal fins have scai'ccly any scales on their base, and are 

 more or less produced in the middle, the longest rays reaching to the middle of the 

 caudal. The dorsal fin commences in the vertical from the humerus ; its spines are of 

 moderate strength, rather short, the length of the twelfth being somewhat less than 

 (jne-third of that of the head. Anal spines as long as, but rather stronger than those 

 of the dorsal fin. Caudal rounded, two-ninths of the total length. Pectoral as long 

 as the head, without snout, extending to the second or third anal spine. Ventral but 

 slightly produced. 



This species is very dark-coloured. The ground-colour is a dark blackish purplish 

 brown. An arched black band runs fi'om the nape of the neck round the opercular 

 margin to the interoperculum. A second is nearly concentric Mith the first, running 

 from the nape to behind the pectoral and ventral. The third is short, like a spot. 



