464 DR. GtiNTHEE ON THE PISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 



slightly scaly at the base. The soft dorsal and anal do not reach to the middle of the 

 caudal. Caudal rounded. The distance between the dorsal and caudal is much less 

 than the depth of the free portion of the tail. Pectoral short, more than half the 

 length of the head, and extending only to the origin of the anal ; ventral with the 

 outer ray slightly produced, reaching beyond the vent. The distance between the vent 

 and the root of the ventral is not quite half the length of the head. 



180. Heros microphthalmus. 

 Gunth. Fish. iv. p. 295. 



D. rg. A. ^. L. lat. 34. L. transv. 5/14. 



The fold of the lower lip is continuous in the middle ; six series of scales on the 

 cheek. The height of the body is contained twice and a third in the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and a third. Head as high as long ; 

 snout of moderate extent ; prseorbital wider than the eye. Cleft of the mouth rather 

 narrow, horizontal, with the jaws equal anteriorly. Interorbital space very convex, 

 twice as broad as the orbit ; the eye is a little nearer to the extremity of the snout 

 than to that of the opercle. Vertical fins scaly at the base ; the spinous dorsal is low, 

 the length of the twelfth spine being one-third or rather less than one-third of that of 

 the head. The free portion of the tail is rather higher than long. Pectoral much 

 shorter than the head, equal in length to the ventral, which does not extend on to the 

 vent. Brownish, with indistinct dark cross bands, and with a dark band along the sides 

 and tail, terminating at a black spot in the middle of the root of the caudal. Each 

 scale on the lateral and lower parts with a purple spot at the base. The soft portions 

 of the vertical tins with series of blackish dots ; axil of the pectoral orange-coloured. 



Numerous examples, from 4 to 8 inches long, were collected by Mr. Godman in the 

 Rio Motagua. 



181. Heros obloxgus. 



D. j^. A. g^. L. lat. 33. L. transv. 5i'15. 



Closely allied to II. microj)hthaImus,'h\it with the body considerably more elongate. 



The fold of the lower lip is continuous in the middle ; five series of scales on the 



cheek. The height of the body is one-third of the total length (without caudal), the 



length of the head two-sevenths. Mouth small, horizontal, with the jaws equal in 



leno-th. The length of the twelfth dorsal spine is less than one-third of that of the 



head. Coloration as in H. micrajjJithalmns. 



Two examples, 7 and 8 inches long, were obtained by Mr. Godman from the Eio 



Motagua. 



Descrij)tion. ■—'H.cn.d a little longer than high; snout of moderate extent; prseorbital 

 wider than the eye, the diameter of which is one-fifth of the length of the head. Cleft 

 of the mouth rather narrow, horizontal, M'ith the jaws equal anteriorly, and the maxil- 



