]905.] FISHES OF THE FAMILY CICHLID.E. 157 



or moderate, ctenoid or cycloid. Two lateral lines ; scales of the 

 lateral lines larger than the rest. Mouth moderate or large ; lower 

 jaw projecting ; maxillary exposed distally ; teeth conical, in 

 several series in each jaw, those of the outermost series usually 

 slightly or moderately enlarged ; teeth of the inner series 

 depressible. Upper surface of head scaly about to the level of the 

 orbits ; cheeks and opercular bones scaly ; posterior border of 

 preeoperculum finely denticulated. Gill-rakers short, few (8-12 

 on the lower part of anterior arch). A single dorsal fin, with 

 XVI-XXY 11-19 rays. Anal with III 7-12 rays. Pectoral 

 symmetrical, rounded, with 15-20 rays ; ventrals behind the bases 

 of the pectorals. Caudal rounded. 

 Sixteen species from South America. 



Skeleton, 



In Crenicichla Johanna the skull is depressed and nearly flat 

 above, the supraoccipital and parietal crests being almost obsolete ; 

 the former gives rise posteriorly to a rather strong backwardly 

 directed process ; a feeble transverse ridge between the orbits forms 

 the posterior border of a broad depression for the reception of the 

 prtemaxillary processes, which are rather shoi't and do not reach 

 the frontals. The vertebral column consists of 23 prfecaudal and 

 1 8 caudal vertebrte ; parapophyses are developed on the fourth 

 and succeeding preecaudals and are mostly strong and almost 

 horizontal ; the first tloi-ee ribs are sessile, the others inserted on 

 the parapophyses ; the epipleurals, except those of the two anteiior 

 ribless vertebrae, are attached either to the ribs or to the para- 

 pophyses near the insertion of the ribs ; none of the anterior 

 vertebrse shows any trace of inferior apophyses. The pelvic bones 

 diverge anteriorly. The lower pharyngeals are united by a 

 sti-aight suture and form a broad triangular piece. 



In Crenicichla saxatilis the skeleton is essentially similar, but 

 the cranial crests are more distinct and the longer prsemaxillary 

 processes extend to the transverse ridge on the frontals. There 

 are 20 praecaudal and 15 caudal vertebra. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Scales ctenoid, at least on the side of the body below the 

 lateral line ; nostril equidistant from tip of snout and 

 ej'e, or nearer the latter. 

 A. 38-70 scales in a longitudinal series below the lateral 

 line. 



1. Maxillary extending beyond anterior margin of eye. 

 38-46 scales in a longitudinal series below the Meral line; 



depth of body 3-4 in the length. D. XVI-XVIII 13-16. 1. lepidota. 

 50-62 scales in a longitudinal series below the lateral line; 



depth of body 3|-4f in the length. D. XVII-XX 13-16. 2. saxatilis. 

 65-70 scales in a longitudinal series below the lateral line ; 



depth of body 4f-5i in the length. D. XIX-XXI 13-14. 3. lucius. 

 54-57 scales in a longitudinal series below the lateral line; 



depth of body 5-5i in the length. D. XX-XXII 11-12 . 4. ffeayi. 



2. Maxillary extending to the vertical from anterior 



margin of eye ; 63-70 scales in a longitudinal series 

 below the lateral line. 



