488 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.86 



and figure of Batrachus ma-rgaritatus probably represent this species, 

 althoiigli the anal rays are given as only 26 and the 8 dorsal saddles 

 are indicated as merely dusky and as not being interspersed by smaller 

 spots. Nor are any small spots shown on the to}) of the head. The 

 marginal spots on the soft dorsal are barely indicated. In these 

 respects this original account of margantatus agrees better with the 

 specimens discussed already as Porichthys species. The anal-ray 

 count was likely an error, however, and the discrepancies in colora- 

 tion are likely attributable to the small size (3.75 inches) of the type 

 of mourgaritatuii. The figure clearly shows the disconnected vertical 

 fins and the simple V-shaped pattern of the branchiostegal photo- 

 phores characteristic of nmrgarltafm (also anaJis and nofatus) as 

 contrasted with greenei. 



One of the best distinctions between this species and P. n/ytatus lies 

 in its longer pleural row of photophores, which, instead of ending 

 abruptly above end of second third of anal base, is continued back- 

 ward nearly to the end of the fin. This same arrangement was noted 

 by Greene (1899, p. G76) for the 3 specimens from Alaska that he 

 referred to notatvs. Unless these are examples of margaritatus with 

 erroneous data, they would seem to represent an undescribed species. 

 We have seen no specimens of Ponddhys from Alaska, and the only 

 record for Alaska m'c have feund is that of Sitka, given by Starks and 

 Morris (1907, p. 230) as the northern limit of range for notatus. 



The 6 specimens from La Paz Bay, nciir Cape San Lucas, agree 

 well with the series at hand from Panama, Colombia, and Galapagos. 

 In 3 specimens from ludefatiiiablc Tshuul. 05 to 89 iiini long. Iheiv are 

 about 7 bands, without intermediate dark mottlings. The dark 

 mottlings in the vicinity of the first dorsal are inconspicuous. 



The following collections oi Porhhfhys margarltatus in the National 

 Museum have been examined: U.S.X.M. nos. 41145 and 41104, from 

 lat. 7°56' N.. long. 79°41'30" W."; 41161, Lidefatigable Lsland*; 

 41192, La Paz Bay, Mexico; 41287, Pacific [Piinaina ?] ; 41491 and 

 41492, from 7^57' N., 78^55' W."; 10172G, Pinas Bay; 101727 and 

 101728, Pinas Bay, north of first small island, coarse sand; 101729, 

 Port Utria, Colombia; 101730, Port IJtria, Colombia, mud; 101731, 

 Pinas Bay, Bight of Bay, Panama, sticky mud; 101736, Gorgona 

 Island, Colombia, near Gorgonilla Channel; 101737, north end, 

 Gorgona Island, Colombia. 



The following collections of Porichthys margaritatits, in the 

 Natural History Museum of Stanford University, have been examined : 

 No. 227, Indefatigable Island " ; 5849, Indefatigable Island. 



♦ Listed as types of P. nautopaedium. 



* Listed as cotype-s of P. nautopaedium. 



