504 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 1 32 



La Paz to Panama and Callao. It reaches a length of 

 about three feet, and is a food fish of some importance, 

 most specimens, however, being much smaller. 



Head 3^ ; depth about 2 in length of body; D. 73 (70 

 to 76) ; A. 57 (53 to 60) ; P. 12; V. 6; scales on lateral 

 line about 106 -1-8 with 35 dorsally and 36 ventrally. 



Flesh firm. Body oblong, moderately compressed; 

 mouth large, oblique, the mandible very heavy, slightly pro- 

 jecting; 4 canine teeth on each side of lower jaw in adult 

 specimens, 8 in young, the two anterior teeth long; an- 

 terior teeth of upper jaw strong, but smaller than those 

 in the lower jaw; the lateral teeth very small and close 

 set. Eye small, shorter than snout, about 7 (6 to 8) in 

 length of head; interorbital area, smooth, flatfish, ^ 

 width of eye. Scales cycloid, small anteriorly and larger 

 posteriorly. Lateral line strongly arched anteriorly, arch 

 about 3/^ in straight part. 



Gill-rakers of medium length, broad, retrose-serrate on 

 inner side, longest about % length of eye, from 4+13 

 to S-r-14 in number, counted in eight specimens; pecto- 

 ral fin about as long as mandible, slightly more than half 

 length of head. Dorsal low, anterior origin opposite an- 

 terior margin of eye; caudal barely double concave: 

 caudal peduncle very strong. Anal spine obsolete ; ven- 

 tral fins small, inserted symmetrically. Fins all scaly. 



Color — Large specimens are dark brown, with blotches 

 on fins; small specimens are covered with pearly white 

 and very dark brown blotches. The brown blotches are 

 almost circular, larger and with less definite outlines near 

 the center of the body, very dark and distinct on caudal. 

 Seven specimens were taken by the Hopkins Expe- 

 dition in the estuary at Mazatlan, where they reach a 

 length of 44 cm. Several specimens were also taken at 

 La Paz. 



