466 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.50. 



The types and paratypes of the species described from Peru by 

 by Abbott ^ and placed in the Stanford University collections, 

 namely, " BasilicJitys regillus," "B. octavius/^ and "B. jordani," 

 have been carefully compared with our specimens, and the only 

 basis for any of these species seems to be the longer head of Menidia 

 regillus. This may be shown by the fallowing comparison of head 

 lengths measured in hundredths of the body length, the number of 

 specimens having each measurement being placed in that column: 



Length of head 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.25 0.26 



Menidca latidavia 15 6 10 



Menidea regillus 4 2 1 



Menidea octavius 10 



Menidea jordani 110 



The differences given for M. jordani by Abbott were the greater 

 development of the lower jaw and the presence of the vomerine 

 teeth. The former difference is included in the variation of our 

 series, and in many of our specimens there is a single vomerine tooth, 

 in others none, and in some of them a small patch. 



Those supposed to exist in the case of B. octavius Abbott were the 

 number of dorsal spines, the space between the dorsal insertions and 

 the lesser depth. The following tables show the counts and meas- 

 urements of the types and paratypes as compared with our specimens. 

 Under each count or measurement is ranged the number of speci- 

 mens showing that count or measurement, as above. The latter 

 are in hundredths of body length : 



Number of dorsal spines VI VII VIII 



Menidia latidavia 3 9 1 



Menidia regillus 2 3 



Menidia octavius 1 



Menidia jordani 1 1 



Distance between dorsal insertions 0. 17 0. 18 0. 19 0. 20 



Menidia latidavia 4 6 3 



Menidia regillus 1 3 



Mencdia octavius 1 



Menidia jordani 1 1 



Depth of body 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.20 



Menidia latidavia 2 2 3 4 1 



Menidia regillus 1 3 1 



Menidia jordani 1 1 



Menidia octavius 10 



10. TRACHURUS PICTURATUS (Bowditch). 



Two large specimens, the longest 52 cm. in total length, from an 

 unknown locality. No differences were apparent between these and 

 smaller specimens from the Calif ornian coast, but none were at hand 



» Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1899, pt. 2, 1900, pp. 338-341. 



