486 DE. aUNTHEE ON THE FISHES OF CENTEAL AMEEICA. 



above and below by a blue band ; the second, without bands, has the body covered all 

 over with irregular black spots. 



The figures are of the natural size. The specimens are from an affluent of the 

 Chisoy River, — fig. 4 representing an adult male of a variety, fig. 2 an adult female, 

 fig. 5 a male approaching to maturity, fig. 3 an adult female of a variety ; finally, fig. 6 

 represents a Mexican example, half-grown male. 



266. GiRARDiNTS PLEiTRosPiLrs. (Plate LXXXVII. fig. 1.) 

 Gunth. Fish. vi. p. 353. 



D. 8. A. 9. V. 6. L. lat. 28. L. transv. 8. 



The height of the body is somewhat more than the length of the head, which is one- 

 fourth of the total (without caudal) ; the diameter of the eye is more than the length 

 of the snout, one-third of that of the head, and two-thirds of the width of the inter- 

 orbital space, which is slightly concave. In the female the origin of the dorsal fin is in 

 the middle of the total length, and conspicuously behind that of the anal fin. Caudal 

 fin large, longer than the head, subtruncate behind ; the free portion of the tail is 

 somewhat elongate, the length of the base of the anal being one-third of its distance 

 from the caudal. Pectoral fin not quite as long as the head, and not extending as far 

 backwards as the ventral fins, which reach the vent. 



In the male the origin of the dorsal is somewhat nearer the extremity of the caudal 

 than that of the snout ; the anal process is quite straight, nearly twice as long as the 

 head, and terminating in a simple tapering point. Caudal very short. Reddish olive ; 

 a series of six or seven round blackish spots, each about the size of the eye, runs along 

 the middle of the side, a black line along the base of the anal fin and the lower and 

 upper margins of the tail. Caudal fin mth two indistinct dark cross bands. 



Mr. Salnn has discovered this species in the Lake of Duefias. Females attain to a 

 length of 2 inches, males to half that size only. 



267. SCLEROGNATHUS MERIDIONALIS. 

 Giinth. Fish. vii. p. 23. 



D. 29-30. A. 10. L. lat. 38. L. transv. 71/7^. 

 Mouth small, inferior, slightly corrugated. The height of the body is contained 

 thrice and one-half or thrice and one-fourth in the total length (without caudal), the 

 length of the head four times or four times and one-half. Head not much longer than 

 high. Eye rather small, one-fifth of the length of the head, and two-thirds of that of 

 the snout. Suborbitals narrow. The anterior dorsal rays are not much produced, 

 being shorter than the head. Caudal fin forked. The origin of the ventral fin is 

 vertically below the fourth dorsal ray. Pectoral fin not extending to ventral. There 

 are five longitudinal series of scales between the lateral line and tlie root of the ventral. 



