484 DB. GUNTHEE ON THE FISHES OF CENTEAL AMERICA. 



of scales. Dorsal and caudal fins crossed by series of black dots; middle of anal 

 blackish. 



Several females, li or 2 inches long, were obtained by Capt. Dow in the Lake of 

 Nicaragua. 



259. PffiCiLiA ELONGATA. (Plate LXXXV. lig. 2, fem.) 

 Giiuth. Fish. vi. p. 342. 



D. 9. A. 8. Iv. lat. 30-32. L. transv. 9. 



The height of the body is contained four times in the total length (without caudal), 

 the length of the head four times and a third. The free portion of the tail is elevated, 

 its least depth being contained once and two-thirds in its own length, and nearly equal 

 to the length of the head without snout. The diameter of the eye equals the length 

 of the snout, is two-sevenths of that of the head, and more than one-half of the width 

 of the interorbital space. Snout much depressed. Lower jaw with a single scries of 

 very small teeth only ; and also in the upper the posterior band of villiform teeth is 

 very indistinct. Origin of the dorsal fin nearer to the root of the caudal than to the 

 occiput, a little behind that of the anal, above the fourteenth scale of the lateral line. 

 Dorsal fin higher than long, its longest ray being as long as the head without snout. 

 Anal small. There are eight longitudinal series of scales on each side of the tail. 

 Caudal rounded, its base only covered with scales. Uniform greenish ; the membrane 

 of the pouches of scales with a blackish margin. Fins immaculate. 



This species is known from a female only, 5 inches long ; it was obtained by Capt. 

 Dow at Panama. 



260. PoECiLiA PETENENSI.S. (Plate LXXXV. fig. 3, male; fig. 4, fem.) 

 Gunth. Fish. ^i. p. 342. 



D. 11. A. 8. L. lat. 29-30. L. transv. 8-9. Vert. 16/14. 

 The height of the body (measured below the anterior dorsal rays) is contained four 

 times and one-fifth in the total length (without caudal) in females, and thrice and one- 

 fourth in males, the males ha.ving the body much higher and shorter. The length of 

 the head is one-fifth of the same length in the female, and one-fourth in the male. The 

 diameter of the eye is a little less than the length of the snout, two-sevenths or one- 

 fourth of that of the head, and somewhat more than one-half of the interorbital space. 

 The origin of the dorsal fin is further distant from the root of the caudal than from the 

 occiput, and corresponds to tlie ele\enth or twelfth scale of the lateral line. Origin of 

 the anal opposite to the fourth ray of the dorsal (in the female). Dorsal fin of moderate 

 size; anal rather small, but pointed; caudal scaly in its basal third. The free portion 

 of the tail is compressed, rather high, its least depth being one-half of its length, and 

 equal to the length of the the head without snout. There are seven longitudinal 



