THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 



165 



below the angle, these bands sometimes indistinct and occasionally 

 missing; ventral sm'face of head and chest usually with pale spots; 

 side of head with small black spots, these sometimes extending on 

 anterior part of body, more numerous and more distinct in some speci- 

 mens than in others; vertical fins about same color as body, the soft 

 parts of dorsal and anal and the caudal with pale spots in light speci- 

 mens, extending on caudal peduncle in some specimens, the spots ob- 

 scure or wanting in dark specimens; ventral plain, rather darker than 

 adjacent parts of body; pectoral pale, dark at base, with five or six 

 dark cross bars formed of black spots on the rays. 



The description is based on 12 specimens; 11 of these were furnished 

 by the Mission, and 1 was taken by R. E. Coker. They are all adults, 

 rangmg from 190 to 275 mm. (155 to 218 mm. to base of caudal) in 

 length, and all were taken in Lobos de Afuera Bay. Those collected 

 by the Mission were mostly taken with a trammel net, set near rocks. 



The Peruvian and the numerous Panamanian specimens, with which 

 they have been compared, differ more or less in so many respects 

 that they apparently must be regarded as distinct species. Those 

 from Panama undoubtedly are A. multiguttatus , Panama Bay being 

 the type locality for that species, and the only one heretofore known 

 from the Pacific coast of America. The Peruvian specimens therefore 

 require a name. The iiaTue fasciatus is in allusion to the banded effect 

 of the color markings on the body and the bands on the pectoral fins. 

 A specimen from James Island, of the Galdpagos group (U.S.N.M. 

 No. 107069), and another one from Cocos Island (U.S.N.M. No. 

 119771), both collected by W. L. Schmitt, seem to be identical with 

 the Peruvian material, whereas one from Mazatldn, Mexico, is identical 

 with the Panama specimens. 



The Peruvian specimens are deeper, have a smaller eye, generally 

 fewer soft rays in the dorsal, and differ in color. The differences are 

 shown in the parallel columns that follow. Specimens of nearly equal 

 size of the two species were used for measuring. 



Alphestes multiguttatus Alphestes fasciatus 



Depth of body in percent of length 33.0 

 to 36.0. 



Eye in percent of head 21 to 25.5, in 

 percent of length 8.3 to 9.2. 



Dorsal with 18 rays in 3 specimens, with 

 19 in 19, and with 20 in 3 specimens. 



General color brown, with dark spots 

 (not blotches), frequently united and 

 forming longitudinal streaks on body 

 and on dorsal fin; no pale spots on 

 ventral surface of head, chest, or 

 caudal fin, no black bands behind eye, 

 or at most only a suggestion of one 

 extending from eye to shoulder. 

 624264—45 12 



Depth of body in percent of length 37.0 

 to 41.0. 



Eye in percent of head 18.2 to 20.6, in 

 percent of length 6.75 to 7.2. 



Dorsal with 17 rays in 3 specimens, with 

 18 in 8 and 19 in 3 specimens. 



General color gray to grayish brown, 

 with irregular dark blotches, tending 

 to form cross bands; no dark spots, 

 except for black specks on side of head; 

 ventral surface of head and chest, and 

 caudal and soft dorsal with pale 

 spots; 3 black bands behind eye, 

 these occasionally obscure or missing. 



