FISHES OF THE FAMILY LOEICAEIIDvE. 275 



fringes ; lower lip of moderate breadth, emarginate posteriorly ; free portion of barbel 

 not longer than diameter of eye ; teeth well developed, 8 on each side in the upper 

 jaw, 10 in the lower. 31-32 scutes in a longitudinal series, 18-19+13-14, all in front 

 of the dorsal carinate, the lateral keels strong and separate throughout ; a third weaker 

 keel on the anterior 10-11 scutes above the upper lateral keel, which forms a distinct 

 series free from the series below them. Lower surface of head naked ; abdomen with 

 2 or 3 irregular series of plates between the lateral series, the anterior plates smaller, 

 extending to the level of the outer angle of the gill-openings, the posterior plates 

 somewhat smaller, except a moderately large anal plate or pair of plates, which is 

 bordered anteriorly by several. First dorsal ray 1-g— If times the length of head ; 

 pectoral spine extending a little beyond base of ventral ; ventral spine more or less 

 produced, the soft portion of the fin rounded, the first and second branched rays the 

 longest ; upper ray of caudal very elongate. Breadth of body at level of first anal ray 

 5-^-5^ times in the distance from that point to the caudal. All the fins with dark 

 spots, the posterior half of each interradial membrane of the dorsal dusky, the caudal 

 blackish at the base and at its posterior margin. 



Total length 250 mm. 



Three specimens : K. Magdalena. 



2. Loeicakia nigricauda, sp. n. (Plate XVI. fig. 2.) 



Length of head 4§ times in the total length. Breadth of head If times in its length ; 

 diameter of eye about 6 times in the length of head, interorbital width 3£-4 times, 

 length of snout 2^ times. Snout triangular, pointed ; supraorbital edges raised ; supra- 

 occipital with a pair of serrated keels ; orbit with a moderate notch ; lips papillose, 

 with short marginal fringes ; free portion of barbel somewhat longer than diameter of 

 eye ; teeth well developed, 6 or 7 on each side in both jaws. 29 scutes in a longi- 

 tudinal series, 16-17+12-13, the lateral keels sharp, separate throughout, all the scutes 

 in front of the dorsal carinate. Lower surface of head naked ; abdomen with 3 series 

 of plates between the lateral series ; anterior plates smaller, extending to the level of 

 the middle of the gill-openings ; an anal plate, bordered anteriorly by 3, these 3 again 

 by 5. First dorsal ray as long as the head ; pectoral spine extending slightly beyond 

 base of ventral ; ventral rays increasing in length from the innermost outwards, the 

 spine not produced ; upper caudal ray produced. Breadth of body at level of first anal 

 ray 6-65 times in the distance from that point to the caudal. Back with 5 dark cross- 

 bands, the first passing through the base of dorsal ; head and anterior part of body 

 with some small blackish spots ; upper third of dorsal, posterior parts of pectoral and 

 ventral, and tip of anal blackish ; caudal uniformly blackish except the two simple 

 outer rays. 



Total length 65 mm. 



Four specimens from Porto Real, Province Rio Janeiro. 



