FISHES OF THE FAMILY LORICARIID^E. 291 



series of plates between the lateral series ; anterior plates smaller and more numerous, 

 extending to the level of the inner angle of the gill-opening ; those between the 

 ventrals scarcely enlarged ; no distinct enlarged anal plate. First dorsal ray a little 

 longer than the head. Pectoral spine extending a little beyond base of ventral; 

 ventrals with the rays increasing in length from the innermost outwards, the spine 

 slightly produced ; upper ray of caudal very elongate. Breadth of body at level of 

 first anal ray 4-j times in the distance from that point to the caudal. Olivaceous ; 

 fins, except the anal, with dark spots on the rays. 



Total length 235 mm. 



Two specimens from the R. La Plata — one collected by Dr. Cunningham, the other 

 from the Haslar Collection. 



30. LOKICAEIA CATAPHRACTA. 



Loricaria cataphracta Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. x.) p. 307 (1758) ; Bloch, Ausl. Fische, viii. p. 76, 

 pi. 75. figs. 3 & 4 ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xv. p. 459 (1840) ; Kner, Denkschr. Ak. 

 Wien, vi. 1854, p. 77 ; Giinth. Cat. Fish. v. p. 255 (1864) ; Peters, Monatsb. Ak. Berl. 1877, 

 p. 471 ; Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. xvii. 1878, p. 681 ; Eigenm. & Eigetim. Proc. Cal. 

 Ac. (2) ii. 1889, p. 36, and Occ. Pap. Cal. Ac. i. 1890, p. 382. 



Loricaria cirrhosa 131. Schn. p. 125, pi. xxxiv. (1801). 



Loricaria setifera Lacep. Hist. Nat. Poiss. v. p. 140 (1803). 



Plecostomus jiagellaris Gronov. Cat. p. 158 (1854). 



Loricaria dura Bleek. Nat. Verh. Holl. Maats. xx. 1864, Silures de Suriname, p. 18. 



Length of head 4-^—5 times in the total length. Breadth of head 1^ times in its 

 length, diameter of eye 6-7^ times, interorbital width 4^-5^ times, length of snout 

 nearly twice. Snout pointed ; supraoccipital with a pair of serrated keels; orbit with 

 a broad shallow notch ; lips covered with tentacle-like papilla? ; lower lip of moderate 

 breadth, emarginate, with long marginal fringes; barbel extending to gill-openino-; 

 teeth moderately strong, those of the upper jaw the longer, 3 or 4 on each side • 

 lower jaw with about 6 teeth on each side. 33-34 scutes in a longitudinal series, 

 17-19 + 15-16, all in front of the dorsal carinate, the lateral keels sharp and separate 

 throughout. Lower surface of head naked ; abdomen with 3-5 irregular series of 

 plates between the lateral series, anterior plates smaller and more numerous, those 

 between the ventrals scarcely enlarged ; no distinct enlarged anal plate. First dorsal 

 ray as long as the head (young) or 1^ times as long (adult) ; pectoral spine extending 

 to anterior \ or nearly to middle of ventral ; ventrals with the rays increasing in length 

 from the innermost outwards, the spine more or less produced ; uppermost caudal ray 

 very elongate. Breadth of body at level of first anal ray 5-8 times in the distance 

 from that point to the caudal. Brownish ; fins blackish. 



Total length 275 mm. 



Nineteen specimens : R.Amazon; Guiana. 



