DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 471 



191. MiCRODESMUS DIPUS. 

 Gunth. /. c, pi. 3. fig. 2. 



D 55. A. U. C. 10. P. 12. V. 1. 



The depth of the body is about oue-eighteeiith of the total length ; the length of the 

 head one-eleventh. The head is rather compressed, the snout short, the mouth very 

 narrow, and the lower jaw vei7 prominent. The minute eye is lateral, and in the 

 anterior third of the length of the head. The dorsal fin commences at a distance from 

 the occiput which is somewhat less than the length of the head ; it is nearly even, and 

 tlie rays are very distmcc, the interradial membrane being thin and transparent. The 

 anal fin commences immediately behind tlie vent. The caudal rays are much more 

 slender and more closely set than those of the dorsal and anal ; the caudal fin is 

 rounded, two-thirds of the length of the head. Pectorals as long as the ventrals, and 

 half as long as the head ; the latter fins are close together, and inserted a little behind 

 the root of the pectoral. Upper parts uniform brownish olive. 



The single specimen is 4i inches long, it was found by Capt. Dow at Panama. 



192. Brotula multibarbata (Schleg.). 



Mr. Salvin has found on i-he Pacific coast of Guatemala a small fish, which I am 

 unable to distinguish from the Indian or Japanese species. However, having only small 

 examples for examination, 1 am not prepared to maintain the specific identity of these 

 fishes. 



195. CiTH.lRICHTHYS SPILOPTERUS. (Plate LXXX. fig. 2'.) 

 Giinth. Fish. iv. p. 431. 



D. 76-78. A. 60-63. L. lat. 47-50. 



The height of the body is two-fifths of the total length (without caudal), the length 

 of the head two-sevenths. Scales of the lateral line subquadrangular ; lateral line 

 nearly straight, gently descending anteriorly. Snout with the jaws equal in front, 

 rather longer than the eye, the diameter of which is one-sixth of the length of the 

 head. The maxillary, the length of which is contained twice and two-thirds in that of 

 the head, extends beyond the middle of the orbit. Anterior teeth of the upper jaw 

 widely set, much larger than the posterior, which are close together and very small ; 

 the lower jaw with seven or eight distant teeth of moderate size on each side. Eyes 

 separated by a very narrow scaleless ridge, their front margins being nearly on the same 

 level. Fin-rays scaly. The dorsal commences a little before the upper eye, and 

 terminates close by the caudal ; its longest rays are behind the middle, and one-half of 

 the length of the head. Anal spine none. Caudal rounded ; its length is one-sixth of 

 the total. The pectoral is rather longer than half the length of the head; ventral 

 much shorter, extending beyond the origin of the anal. Gill-rakers lanceolate, pointed, 



' The artist has unfortunately omitted to reverse the view of this figure. 



