150 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Some doubt exists as to the correct designation of this species. 

 Much more material than is now available would be needed to deter- 

 mine the relationship. Breder (1938, p. 85) referred Exocoetus dowii 

 Gill from Panama to the synonymy of Danichthys rondeletii (Cuvier 

 and Valenciennes), and he placed Exocoetus rujipinnis in the same 

 synonymy, with a question mark. However, he did not dispose of 

 Exocoetus californicus Cooper, which has been recorded from Peru by 

 Nichols and Murphy (1922, p. 506). There can be no doubt that the 

 specimens now at hand are identical with the large specimens named 

 and described as Exocoetus rujipinnis by Cuvier and Valenciennes. 

 It seems advisable, for the present at least, to use Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes 's name. 



Range. — Uncertain. Coast of Peru, and probably northward to or 

 beyond Panama Bay. If identical with D. rondeletii (Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes) , as may be the case, the Atlantic Ocean and the Medi- 

 terranean Sea also should be included in the range. 



Family FISTULARIDAE: Cornetfishes 



Body very elongate, much depressed, broader than deep ; head very 

 long, the anterior bones of skull much produced, forming a long tube; 

 a small mouth at end of tube; both jaws, and usually vomer and pala- 

 tines with teeth; gills four, a slit behind the fourth; gill membranes 

 separate, free from isthmus; gill rakers obsolete; lateral line present, 

 sometimes armed posteriorly with bony plates; only soft dorsal present, 

 similar to anal and more or less directly opposite it; caudal fin forked, 

 its middle ray produced into a long filament; ventral fins abdominal, 

 far in advance of dorsal; pectorals small, inserted near posterior margin 

 of opercle. 



Genus FISTULARIA Linnaeus, 1758 



The characters of the genus are sufficiently shown in the description 

 of the family. 



A single species, new to the fauna of Peru, is included. 



FISTULARIA CORNETA Gilbert and Starks 



Aguja 



Fistularia corneta Gilbert and Starks, 1904, p. 56, pi. 10, figs. 18, 18a, Panama 

 Bay, and Mazatldn, Mexico (original description; compared with several 

 related species). — Meek and Hildebrand, 1923, p. 249, Panama Bay 

 (synonymy; description; range). 



Head 2.6 to 2.9; depth at base of pectoral 10.5 to 14 in head, 8.5 

 to 10.6 in snout; D. 17 or 18; A. 16 or 17; P. 16 or 17. 



Body very elongate, much depressed, its width at base of ventral 

 fins about 1.5 times its depth; head more or less quadrate in cross 



