404 



ON SOME NEW SPECIES OF AMERICAN AND AFRICAN FISHES. 



Habitat. Near Orizava, Vera Cruz. Prof. Sumichrast, Mus. Academy and Smithsonian. 



The differences between this species and the mexicanus result from the greater short- 

 ness of the body in the former, increased width of head, and small size of eye. To our 

 measurements are appended those of the latter, taken from Giinther's "Catalogue": 





G. 



dolichocephalic. 



G. 



mexicanus 



Total length, . 





in. lin. 

 .70. 





in. lin. 

 8 



Height of body, 



. 



.10. 





1 1 



Length of head, 



. 



.17. 





1 8 



Greatest width of head, . 



, 



.10. 





11 



Diameter of eye, 



. 



. 3.25 





2.5 



Length of caudal fin, 



. 



. 1 1.5. 





1 



Ageniosus PCRPIIYREUS. 



Head three and two-thirds in length to origin of caudal, covered on the occiput with 

 smooth skin. Eye its own diameter behind rictus oris. Maxillary barbel concealed, not 

 attaining rictus by its length. Pectoral fins not attaining ventrals; the spine acute, 

 smooth behind, three and one-third times in length of head. Ventrals falling far short of 

 anals ; caudal deeply forked. Dorsal spine slender, flexible, rugose in front ; formula D. 

 1.7. C+18+. A. 44; V. 7. P. 15. 



Color. Back and narrow extension on sides, with nape and top of head, brown purple, 

 irregularly marbled throughout the length with the silvery of the sides, which is prolonged 

 anteriorly as a band to the occiput. An eye-like spot between gill opening and dorsal 

 fin on each side. Side of head and below yellowish. 



Habitat. Surinam. Ur. Charles Hcring, Mus. Academy Nat. Sciences. 



This fifth species of the genus is allied to Kner's A. dentatus, from near Para. 



PlMELODUS (RlIAMDIA) BRACHYPTERUS. 



D. 1.6 A. 11. P. I. 9. Adipose fin about equal from its anterior extremity to origin of 

 first dorsal ray, three and two-thirds times in length from end of muzzle to base of caudal. 

 Occipital process short. Maxillary barbels to beyond first dorsal, external mandibular to 

 axilla. Height of body at anal fin equal same at first dorsal, five and one-third times to 

 base of caudal ; length of head five and two-thirds in same. Greatest width of head three- 

 fourths its length. Mandible a little shorter, intermaxillary band one-fifth as long as 

 broad. Eye nearer extremity muzzle than to opercular border, diameter nearly half 



t 



