FISHES FROM CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MEXICO. 
63 
large, inserted above axis of body and reaching to middle of the ventrals, or about equal 
length of longest dorsal rays; origin of ventrals midway between snout and last rays of 
anal, extending beyond vent almost to anal; length equal distance from snout to posterior 
edge of orbit. Eye large and full, longer than snout, about 3 in head; cheeks and opercles 
scaled, the former with three rows of scales. Color, light olive-green, with narrow hut dis- 
tinct and complete lateral stripe; the three rows of scales on hack thickly sprinkled with 
minute dark-hrown dots which extend from the snout to the caudal fin. Head in length, 
4; depth, 5. Measurements of live adult specimens were as follows: 
Length. 
Head. 
Depth. 
Eye. 
Lateral 
line. 
Dorsal. 
An.al. 
mm. 
mm. 
i 
mm. 1 
mm. 
53 
12-5 
11 1 
3 + 
36 
IV, 10 
I, 16 
49 
12— 
10 1 
3 
36 
IV, 10 
I, 16 
46 
11 
9 I 
3— 
37 
IV, 10 
1, 16 
46 -5 
114- 
9+ 1 
3 
37 
IV, 9 
1 , 16 
46 -5 
11 + 
9+ 1 
3 
35 
IV, 9 
1 , 16 
Numerous specimens also taken from the canals at Salamanca and in the City of Mexico. 
In the City of Mexico this species, with a small cyprinodont (which unfortunately I did not 
secure alive), was sold in the market, imbedded in meal and baked in corn husks. This 
siiecies differs from C. hrasiUeiisis in having the first dorsal placed farther forward .and with 
fewer rays in the anal. Specimens from Salamanca have 17 rays in the an, ah This is 
evidently the same species sent with a number of other fishes to the National Museum at 
Washington by Prof. A. Duges, from Lake Chapala and the stream of Guan.ajuato, Mexico, 
and listed by Dr. Jordan as doubtfully Chirostoma brasiUensis, in Proc. Nat. Mus. 1879, 299. 
CITY OF MEXICO. 
But little fishlDg was done at tlie City of Mexico. From recent heavy rains the 
lakes had been filled with water and all the low land flooded; most of the canals con- 
necting the larger lakes were bank-full of water. Over these and the neighboring 
ponds and bayous' quantities of algte, lemna, and other water vegetation grew in great 
luxuriance, so that drawing a seine for specimens Avas laborious and uncertain work. 
The markets were visited, but few fresh fish excepting those brought from the coast 
were seen, and we were informed that A'ery little fishing Aims carried on by the local 
fishermen at this season of the year, although during the dry season many fish are 
taken from the lakes and canals. Three species only Avere obtained in these Avaters, 
and one other Avas seen in the market, a siiecimen of which, in suitable condition for 
identification, could not be secured. 
1. Notropis aztecus, sp. nov. This lisli was obtained iii great uumbers from the canal iu tlic City of 
Mexico. The specimens from Avhich the following measuremeuts were taken were of an 
average size, about 77 mm. long. 
Body short and compressed; contour gently arched from snout to dorsal, decuiwed below; 
lateral line almost straight, lying along .axis of body. Head short and blunt, 18 mm. ; 
snout blunt but not decurved; mouth terminal slightly oblique ; maxillary reaching line of 
orbit. Eye very small, 3 nun., al)out 6 in head; orbit circular; dorsal behind A'eutral, 
somewhat nearer end of scales th.an snout; Ij.ase very short, 8 mm., about depth of caudal 
l)ednucle in narrowest phace; fin low, 10 mm. in height, a little less than longest c.a.udal r.ay 
or distance from posterior margin of orbit to end of opercle; insertion of anal two scales 
nearer caudal than end of dorsal ray Avhen compressed; base short, .5 mm., equally distant 
from snout to orbit; longest rays 8 mm., same as base of dorsal; A'eutrals midway between 
snout and base of caudal, short, not reaching vent; longest rays 8 mm., equal half the dis- 
tance from the origin to the first rays of anal. Uijper part of bodj^ of a slaty or iron gray; 
some of the scales with a metallic blue luster, somewdiat lighter beloAv lateral line; belly 
