FISH. 



117 



Maldonado with the Pcecilia decem-maculata. There are several specimens in the 

 collection, none of them exceeding the size above mentioned, and they have all 

 the appearance of being full grown. Some have the lines of spots much more 

 interrupted than others. 



2. Lebias multidentata. Jen. 



Plate XXII. Fig. 3. 

 L. corpore subelongato, subcompresso, viridescenti-fusco ; lateribus fasciis angnstis 

 paucis longitudinalibus albidis obscurioribus : dentibus seriebus plurimis dispositis, 

 omnibus tricuspidatis : caudali rotundatd. 



T>. 9 ■ A. 9 ; C. 26, brevibus inclusis ; P. 13 ; V. 6. 

 Long. unc. 3, lin. 2. 

 Form. — The general form and proportions of this species are extremely similar to those of the last ; 

 but it differs very remarkably in having behind the anterior row of tricuspid teeth, a band of 

 minuter teeth above and below, all of which are also tricuspid, and similarly formed to those 

 in front. Head one-fifth of the entire length ; flattened on the crown. Jaws nearly equal ; 

 upper one very protractile. Scales large ; about thirty-two in a longitudinal line, and eight 

 in the depth ; covering all the pieces of the opercle ; similar in form to those of the last 

 species, but with the striae on the free portion finer and more numerous, the deep-cut basal 

 striae also rather more numerous, amounting to about fourteen, and of unequal lengths, gra- 

 dually increasing from the outermost to the middle ones. Lateral line similar ; also the same 

 pores on the lower jaw. Fins and fmray-formula similar: in both species the first and last rays 

 of the dorsal and anal are simple, and shorter than the others. The anal perhaps terminates 

 a little nearer the caudal than the dorsal does. 

 Colour..— (In spirits.) Greenish-brown, with very little appearance of markings in its present 

 state. There is, however, some indication of an irregular scattered row of small black spots 

 on each side, a little below the ridge of the back ; also of two or three pale longitudinal narrow 

 bands along the middle of the sides, which were probably more conspicuous in the living fish. 

 The belly is yellow, and very tumid ; but these are evidently characters merely indicative 

 of the female sex. 

 Habitat, Monte Video. 



This is another new species of Lebias taken by Mr. Darwin in fresh-water 

 at Monte Video, if indeed it strictly belong to the genus ; but the circumstance 

 of the teeth being in several rows, and in fact forming a complete band, is at 

 variance with the generic characters as given by Cuvier. The teeth however 

 being exactly of the same form as in the other species, and the general charac- 

 ters on the whole similar, I have not thought it expedient to erect it into a new 

 genus. There is but one specimen in the collection, which appears to be a large 

 female big with young. 



