DE. GUXTHEE ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 453 



between the anterior dorsal spines and the lateral line. The following are subvertical, 

 slightly inclined backwards, and broader than the interspaces between them. The 

 penultimate connects the ends of the dorsal and anal fins ; the last across the root of 

 the caudal. Fins black. 



This species appears to remain within small dimensions. 



164. Heros multispinosus. (Plate LXXIV. fig. 2.) 

 D. -'|. A. i^. L. lat. 29. L. transv. 4/12. 



The lower lip is interrupted in the middle. Three series of scales on the cheek. A 

 blackish band, interrupted on the tail, runs from the eye to the caudal ; a round black 

 spot in the middle of the length of the band. 



A single specimen, 3^ inches long, was obtained by Capt. Dow in the Lake of 

 Managua. 



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

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

 twice as deep as long. Head as deep as long, with the upper profile nearly straight. 

 Snout rather short ; the width of the preeorbital being considerably less than that of the 

 orbit. The eye is situated immediately below the upper profile, nearer to the end of 

 the snout than to that of the operculum ; its diameter is a little less than one-third of 

 the length of the head, and much less than the width of the interorbital space, which 

 is flat. Mouth with the jaws equal in length, small, the maxillary not nearly reaching 

 the vertical from the orbit. Suboperculum with two series of scales. The soft dorsal 

 and anal fins are scaly at the base, they are scarcely prolonged, and not extending to 

 the middle of the caudal. The dorsal fin commences above the humerus ; its spines are 

 of moderate strength, and rather long, the length of the eighth to the last spine being 

 not much less than one-half of that of the head. Anal spines stronger, and even a 

 little longer than those of the dorsal. Caudal fin rounded, two-ninths of the total 

 length. Pectoral shorter than the head, extending to the fifth anal spine. The outer 

 ventral ray produced into a short filament. Brownish olive, each scale somewhat 

 darker at the base. A blackish band, as broad as a scale, runs from the eye to a round 

 black spot situated before and below the termination of the upper part of the lateral 

 line ; thence it is continued to the root of the caudal as a series of four or fi^e irregular 

 spots. Fins blackish, apparently immaculate. 



165. Heros losgim.\nus. (Plate LXXII. fig. 2.) 

 D. 1^. A. % L. lat. 28. L. transv. 41/12. 

 Ihe fold of the lower lip is interrupted in the middle. Three or four series of scales 

 on the cheek. Pectoral very long, extending nearly to the end of the anal. Greenish 



