456 DE. GtJNTHBE ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMEBICA. 



third of the length of the head. Olive, with five or six dark cross bands, the middle one 

 of which has a deep-black spot where it passes the lateral line; a more or less distinct 

 black spot on the suboperculum ; sides of the head and vertical fins with bluish dark- 

 edged ocelli. 



This species is very closely aUied to H. aureus, but may be distinguished from it by 

 larger scales, by a more backward position of the eyes, by stronger spines, &c. 



Four examples, from ^ to 5^ inches long, were obtained by Mr. Salvin at Lake Peten. 



169. Heros labiatus. 



GUnth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 27, pi. 4. fig. 1. 



D. n- A. ^. L. lat. 32. L. transv. 6/13. 



The anterior portions of the upper and lower lips are much enlarged, each forming 

 a moveable subtriangular flap (probably in old males only). The height of the body is 

 somewhat more than the length of the head, and two-fifths of the total (without caudal) ; 

 the eye occupies the middle of the length of the head. Scales on the cheek in four 

 series. Base of the dorsal fin almost scaleless. The length of the eighth dorsal spine is 

 less than one-third of that of the head. The depth of the free portion of the tail is 

 scarcely more than its length. Uniform red, or red irregularly marbled with black, or 

 nearly entirely black. 



Two specimens, 6^ and 7 inches long, were collected by Capt. Dow in the Lake of 

 Managua; three others were lately sent by the same gentleman from the Lake of 

 Nicaragua. We do not yet know the female sex and the young state of this species. 



Description. — Head rather longer than high; snout somewhat elevated; cleft of the 

 mouth slightly oblique, with the lower jaw a little prominent. Teeth in nan-ow bands, 

 those of the outer scries enlarged, with brown tips. The maxillary does not nearly 

 attain the vertical from the front of the eye. Prseorbital as wide as the orbit, the 

 diameter of which is less than the extent of the snout, and one-fourth of the length of 

 the head. Literorbital space somewhat convex, wider than the orbit. The eye is 

 situated not quite immediately beneatli the upper profile of the head, and midway 

 between the end of the snout and that of the operculum. Opercles scaly, the scales 

 being larger than those on the cheek ; suboperculum with two series of scales. Soft 

 portions of dorsal and anal fins with minute scales between the rays at their base. 

 Dorsal spines of moderate lengtli and strength, the length of the eighth dorsal spine 

 being less than one-third of the length of the head. Points of the produced middle 

 rays of the soft dorsal and anal reaching to the middle of the caudal fin. Caudal 

 rounded, its length being contained rather more than five times in the total. Anal 

 spines of nearly the same length and strength as those of the dorsal fin. Pectoral 

 rounded, reaching to the fourth or fifth spine of the anal ; ventral filament produced. 



