54 LOPHOBEAXCilll. 



of second dorsal and lateral line. Dorsal YIII, 1 9 ; spines of moderate strength, the third and fourth 

 the longest, a little more than * the length of head. Anal III G ; second spine slightl}' longer than the 

 third, less than 1 the length of the fish, rectoral nearly •.; the length of head. Ventrals extending to 

 the vent, which is situated at 5 of tlie distance from base of ventral spine to origin of anal. Caudal 

 peduncle H as long as deep. Silvery, back brownish ; lateral lino not blaoliish ; spinous dorsal blackish, 

 other fins pale. 



Ilab. Pacific Coasts of Central America : 

 Salvador, La Union ^ - ; Panama ^ '\ 



The above description is based on a single specimen, 260 mm. in total length, iVom 

 Panama. 



Sub-order II. LOPHOBRANCHII. 



This sub-order comprises a number of marine fishes, mostly of small size and peculiar 

 appearance. A few "Pipe-fishes" of the genera Sj/ngnathus and I)oi'>/icIttIi>/s are 

 known to occur in the fresh waters of Mexico and Central America. They may be 

 easily recognized by the long slender body enclosed in bony rings, the tubiform snout, 

 and the small, terminal, toothless mouth. 



Fam. SYi^GNATHIDiE. 



Lophobranchii witli small gill-openings, a single dorsal tin without spines, and no ventral fins, 



1. SYNGNATHUS, Linn. 



Si/nr/nathus, Giinth. Cat. Fish. viii. p. 15.5 (1870). 



Siphostomn, Jord. & Everm. Eull. U.S. Nat. Mus. xlvii. 189G, p. 761. 



Pectoral fins present; caudal fin present; males with an egg-pouch under the tail. 



Of the numerous American species of this widely distributed tropical genus only 

 three appear to have been definitely recorded from fresh waters. 



L Syngnatlius spicifer, Puipp. 



Syngnatlujs spicifer, Giiuth. Cat. Fish. viii. p. 172 (1870). 



iJody-rings 15-16 (abdominal) -|- 38-42 (caudal). Dorsal rays l.*3-i'7. Origin of dorsal separated by 1 or 2 

 caudal rings from the ring containing the vent. Abdomen with dark vertical bars at the edges of tlie 

 rings. 



Ilah. Tropical Indo-Pacific. 



I have compared three specimens in the British Museum from Tehuante[)ec with 

 (jthers from Zanzibar and the Philippines and I cannot detect any dift'erences. 



