DR. GtJXTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 455 



wards across the nape; the second, third, and fourth below the dorsal spines; the 

 seventh across the free portion of the tail. A large, black, white-edged ocellus on the 

 root of the caudal. Fins blackish ; pectoral yellowish towards the base. 

 Mr. Salvin obtained three examples, 7 inches long, at Lake Peten. 



167. Heros aureus. (Plate LXXIII. fig. 2.) 

 Gunth. Fish. iv. p. 392. 



D. 9^. A. g. L. lat. 33. L. transv. 6/13. 



The fold of the lower lip is continuous in the middle. Scales on the cheek in live 

 series. Base of the dorsal scaleless. The height of the body is contained twice and a 

 third in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head three times. Head 

 as high as long ; snout somewhat elevated, with the cleft of the mouth oblique and 

 with the jaws equal anteriorly ; prseorbital as wide as the orbit. The eye is a little 

 nearer to the extremity of the operculum than to that of the snout. Dorsal spines 

 rather slender, tlie length of the twelfth being a little less than one-half of that of the 

 head. The distance between the dorsal and caudal is somewhat less than the greatest 

 depth of the free portion of the tail. Caudal slightly emarginate. The distance 

 between the vent and the root of the ventral is one-third of the length of the head. 

 Yellowish-olive, with six dark cross bands, extending do^vnwards to a yellow longi- 

 tudinal band running from above the pectoral to the lower half of the base of the 

 caudal. The third cross band terminates in a large black lateral spot ; sides of the 

 head with several bluish dots, and with a blackish spot on the operculum and suboper- 

 culum, darkest on the latter bone. Fins light-coloured, immaculate. 



Two specimens, 4 and 5 inches long, were collected by Messrs. Salvin and Godman 

 at Yzabal and in the Rio Motagua. 



-'&■• 



168. Herds affinis. (Plate LXXIX. fig. 1.) 

 Gunth. Fish. iv. p. 392. 



D. ^. A. ||. L. lat. 29. L. transv. 512. 

 The fold of the lower lip is continuous m the middle. Scales on the cheek in four 

 series. The height of the body is contained twice and two-fifths in the total lengtli 

 (without caudal), the length of the head twice and three-fourths. Head as high as 

 long; snout compressed, elevated, with the cleft of the mouth oblique and with the 

 lower jaw prominent. Praeorbital wider than the orbit (in the larger individuals) ; the 

 eye is considerably nearer to the extremity of the operculum than to that of the .snout. 

 Dorsal and anal fins entirely scaleless; dorsal spines rather strong and long, the length 

 of the twelfth being two-fifths of that of the head. Anal spines very strong. The free 

 portion of the tail is a little higher than long. Caudal slightly emarginate, two-ninths 

 of the total length. The distance between the vent and the root of the ventral is one- 



