250 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
the lake from the sea. The species is said to be nocturnal in its habits, hiding 
among rocks or elsewhere during the day and coming out at night to feed. It is 
more abundant in Lake Olomega than in any other locality where collections 
were made. It does not appear to be esteemed there as a food fish, however, for 
the native fishermen did not care to save the fish not desired for specimens. Large 
numbers, however, are sun-dried and shipped. Several bundles, weighing 100 
pounds or more, inclosed in nets, were seen at the local railway station. 
Three large females taken in the Rio Lempa at Suchitoto on February 5 were 
examined and found to contain eggs provided with large, red, bloodvessels and 
measuring about 10 millimeters in diameter. The eggs were still attached to the 
ovary by prominent stalks, and since it is known that marine catfishes produce very 
large eggs it is improbable that the spawning period was immediately at hand, 
although it might be expected to occur within a month or so. Two large specimens 
examined had fed on crabs and crawfish, while two smaller ones had eaten fish, 
snails, insects, and insect larvae. 
This species ranges from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Panama. The specimens at 
hand were taken in Lake Guija, Lake Metapan, Rio Lempa at Suchitoto and San 
Marcos, and in Lake Olomega. 
4. Genus ARIUS Cuvier and Valenciennes 
Arius Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., XV, 1840, 53, (type Pimelodus arius Hamilton). 
This genus of catfishes is characterized by the absence of teeth on the vomer 
and by the broad blunt teeth on the palatines, which are in small or moderate-sized 
patches and without backward projections. A single apparently undescribed 
species of this salt-water genus was taken in strictly fresh water. It is therefore 
included here with the fresh-water species. 
4. Arius taylori sp. nov. 
Bagre 
Type No. 87224, U.S.N.M.; length 360 mm.; Rio Lempa, San Marcos. 
Head 3.8; depth 4.6; D. I, 7; A. 23. 
Body moderately elongate, somewhat deeper than broad at origin of dorsal, 
posteriorly compressed; caudal peduncle rather slender, its depth 3.25 in head; 
head not very broad, flat above; snout moderate, 3.25 in head; eye large, lateral, 
5.5; interorbital 2.25; mouth not excessively broad, its width scarcely equal to 
interorbital space; teeth in the upper jaw villiform, divided by a narrow line, not 
pointed posteriorly and not reaching angle of mouth, each half about twice as long 
as broad; teeth on lower jaw all pointed except the posterior one at middle of jaw, 
these blunt like the palatine teeth, the band well separated at symphysis, tapering 
and pointed posteriorly, and extending well past angle of mouth, its greatest width 
less than one-third the length of each patch; vomerine teeth wanting; palatine 
teeth blunt, in small patches, placed far apart, the distance between them about 
equal to half the length of the band on upper jaw; maxillary barbel reaching to 
margin of opercle; gill rakers 11; distance from snout to dorsal 2.7 in length; top 
