1899.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 339 



Catalogue (Vol. iii, 402). It is likely that either the specimens 

 described by Giiuther did not belong to laticlavia, or else that more 

 than one species was included under that name. However, from 

 Valenciennes' descriptions it is evident that laticlavia has the head 

 shorter in proportion to the length than in any other related species 

 of which we know, except affine, and the first dorsal is relatively 

 more posterior than in any species we have examined. 



Basilichthys brevianalis (Giinther)" from Valparaiso has larger 

 scales than any of the Peruvian species (67 in lateral line) and 

 B. alhurnus (Giiuther)'' from the Strait of Magellan, much 

 smaller scales (105 in lateral line). 



Humboldt observed a Piexe-rey at Callao to which he gave the 

 name regia, and which is described by Cuvier and Valenciennes,^' 

 but so briefly that it is almost impossible to refer any specimen 

 definitely to that species. The genus Basilichthys, as here under- 

 stood, includes those Atherinoids with premaxillaries protractile and 

 broadened posteriorly, scales small (70-100 in lateral line), and 

 with the upper jaw developed fully as strongly as the lower. 

 33. Basilichthys regillus Abbott. New species. 



Head 4, depth 5^, eye 5 in head, If in interorbital space, 

 snout 2|. 



D. VI-I, 10; A. I, 16. 14 rows of scales at level of ventrals, 

 in a series from opercle to root of caudal, 11 rows on tail. 



Body rather thick, rounded, low. Head rather long in propor- 

 tion to depth, flat or slightly convex above. Teeth fine, in two to 

 four rows, vomer without teeth. Mouth moderate, the jaws almost 

 even, the upper jaw slightly projecting; giU rakers fine — 7+24 

 (circ). Scales sinuate, most of them with from 3 to 6 radiate 

 strise as described by Jenyns and others. (This character of striae 

 does not appear to be of any taxonomic importance. ) Scales on top 

 of head arranged irregularly in a sort of shield ; cheeks and opercles 

 scaled, jaws and snout naked. Origin of first dorsal nearer snout 

 than base of caudal by one-third length of head, and inserted 

 almost even with, or slightly in advance of vertical from tip of 

 ventrals. Second dorsal inserted above the seventh ray of anal. 

 Interdorsal space large, 5| in body length (measuring from first 



1' Shore Fishes, Challenger Exp., 35, 1880. 

 '-Cat. Fishes British Museum, iii, 404, 1861. 

 "x, 474 (1835). 



