476 DB. GtJNTHEE ON THE FISHES OF CENTKAL AMEKICA. 



hesitate to refer our specimens to it, if the barbels of Bleeker's species were not much 

 longer, those of the maxillaries extending on to the base of the ventral fin, and the 

 outer ones of the mandible to the base of the pectoral. The specimen in the Leyden 

 Museum is 8^ inches long. 



219. Arius dovii. 

 Ml-. Gill (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1863, p. 170) describes a species discovered 

 by Capt. Dow on the Pacific coast of Central America, under the name of Leptarius 

 dowii. Leptarius is a distinct genus, according to Mr. Gill, characterized by having 

 the band of teeth quadripartite, the head granulated and without lateral fontanelles, a 

 slender body, and a very slender caudal peduncle, the anal fin rather low and oblong, 

 the thin adipose fin extending behind the anal, and the fins little developed. — The 

 species is not described ; but detailed comparative measurements of the single example 

 (which is 5| inches long) are given. 



222. .Elurichthys nuchalis. (Plate LXXXI. fig. 2.) 



Giinth. Fish. v. p. 179. 



D. 1/7. A. 26. P. 1/12. 



The height of the body is rather less than the length of the head, which is two-ninths 

 of the total (without caudal) ; the greatest width of the head is three-fourths of its 

 length ; snout longer than the eye, the diameter of which is rather less than one-fourth 

 of the length of the head. The vomerine band of teeth is separated in the middle by a 

 short interspace, each half being as broad, and long as the palatine band, with which it 

 is subcontinuous. The maxillary barbels extend to the root of the ventral, those of the 

 mandible nearly to the pectoral. The dorsal buckler is as broad behind as in front, 

 with rounded lateral margins, each half being bent downwards on the side. Dorsal fin 

 narrow and elevated, the first ray being considerably longer than the spine, which is as 

 long as the head without snout ; pectoral spine equal to the dorsal spine. The origin 

 of the anal fin is much nearer to the base of the caudal than to that of the pectoral. 

 The first pectoral ray is produced into a long filament reaching beyond the origin of the 

 anal. Ventrals extending beyond the vent, their length being three-fifths of that of the 

 head. Iridescent blue above, silvery below. 



One example, 11 inches long, was obtained by Messrs. Salvin and Dow on the Pacific 

 coast of Panama. 



223. ^LURICHTHYS PANAMENSIS. 

 Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1863, p. 172. 

 This species is described thus : — 



D. 1/7. A. 27. P. 1/13. 

 The greatest height is contained five times in the length to the base of the caudal fin, 



