OCR Text |
Show 1868.] DR. A. GUNTHER ON NEW AMERICAN FISHES. Fig. 1. 231 Callichthys armatus. as the body, finely serrated behind; pectoral spine rather stronger but shorter than that of the dorsal, longer than the head. Anal spine shorter and more feeble than that of the adipose fin. Olive-coloured (in spirits), the nine or ten anterior scutes with vertical series of small blackish spots. Several examples, 2 and 2\ inches long, were collected by Mr. Bartlett at Xeberos and on the Huallaga. C H A E T O S T O M U S FORDII. (Plate XXI.) D. 1/8. A. 1/5. P. 1/6. V. 1/5. L. lat. 25. Head much depressed, elongate, its length being one-third of the total (without caudal) ; snout broad and elongate, the distance of the eye from the posterior end of the head being only two-fifths of the length of the snout. Eye small, one-eighth of the length of the head, and two-fifths of the width of the interorbital space, which is rather flat. Occiput terminating in a low obtuse ridge. The entire upper surface of the head is very rough, and covered with minute spines; the scutes with which the snout is covered are but loosely united, so that this part is rather soft. Interoperculum with about ten setiform spines, the longest being about as long as the eye. Each jaw with six or seven stoutish teeth on each side ; each of them has a lobe on its outer side, rather distant from the flat apex. Lower lip not notched, with numerous papillse. Throat, thorax, and belly naked. The first ray of the dorsal and anal, and the upper and lower of the caudal, slightly thickened and rough. Caudal lobes more or less produced. Pectoral spine strong, extending to the second third of the ventral fin, covered with short hooks. Ventral spine as long as that of the pectoral fin extending beyond the anal. Each scute of the body with a series of three or four very prominent spines. Ten scutes between anal and caudal, and eight between the two dorsal fins. Brownish black ; most of the scutes with a round bluish-white dot at the |