408 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 36 



Family CLUPEID^. 



41. Sardinella stolifera (Jordan & Gilbert). Sardina 

 de Aceite. Plate xxviii. 



Exceedingly abundant in the Astillero at Mazatlan, 

 where many specimens were taken by Dr. Gilbert, as 

 well as by the Hopkins expedition. This species is also 

 recorded by Gilbert from Panama, and has been found 

 in several other localities. The flesh of this sardine is 

 very rich and delicate, quite equal to that of the European 

 Pilchard ( Clufianodon filchardus), and it is therefore a 

 most excellent pan fish. It is, however, not eaten by the 

 Mexicans, no fish having less than one-half pound weight 

 being salable in the market at Mazatlan. The art of 

 properly cooking delicate fish like this is unknown to the 

 people of this region. 



42. Opisthonema libertate (Giinther). Sardina Mach- 

 ete. 



Common in shallow water, in the surf and in the harbor 

 at Mazatlan, where it was also taken by Dr. Gilbert. 



43. Opisthopterus lutipinnis (Jordan & Gilbert). 

 Extremely common in the surf outside the -bay, where 



great numbers are taken with the seine; a delicate fish 

 which, probably, is of excellent quality as food. 



Our specimens are all smaller than the single one taken 

 bv Dr. Gilbert at Mazatlan, and they differ in some minor 

 details. Doubtless all belong to the same species. 



Head4§; depth 3 j ; scales 48-13; D. 14; A. 54; snout 

 4 in head; eye 3^; maxillary 2; pectoral \\\ anal base 

 2% in body; scutes 27. 



Gill-rakers moderate, slender, about x-j-15. 



Body strongly compressed, translucent, the belly much 

 compressed, with sharp scutes; vent midway between tip 

 of snout and base of caudal. Front of dorsal midway 



