176 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



on opercle) and on chest; first two spines of dorsal short, these followed 

 by three spines with free filaments, that of the third spine longest, reach- 

 ing base of the seventh soft ray, the fin rather deeply notched between 

 the ninth and tenth spines, caudal truncate, the upper lobe the longest; 

 anal small, the second spine scarcely shorter than the third, 4.7 in 

 head; ventral fairly long, pointed, inserted a little behind base of 

 pectoral, with a feeble spine, 3.8 in head; pectoral moderately large, 

 round, inserted under origin of dorsal, 1,7 in head, 4.5 in length. 



Color rather pale browTi; lower parts a little lighter than the back; 

 fins of about same color as adjacent parts of body, except anal and 

 ventrals, which are a little darker. The "traces of sLx or seven dusky 

 cross-bands on sides" which this specimen possessed when described 

 by Evermann and Radcliffe (see reference above) have virtually 

 disappeared. 



The Mission did not take this species. The description is based 

 on the specimen (U.S.N.M. No. 77645) described by Evermann and 

 Radcliffe (see reference above), which is now 330 mm. (266 mm. to 

 base of caudal) long and was taken at Paita by R. E. Coker. This 

 specimen was compared with a larger one (U.S.N.M. No. 107120), 

 560 mm, (453 mm. to base of caudal) long, from the Galapagos Islands. 

 The two agree fairly well, except for certain differences that apparently 

 may be ascribed to the difference in age and size. Five, instead of 

 three dorsal spines, bear filaments in the larger specimen, the longest 

 of which extend somewhat beyond the tip of the soft dorsal. The 

 caudal fin is less strongly truncate and its lobes are rounder, and no 

 traces of cross bands are present. The following proportions and 

 enumerations are based on the larger specimen. Head in length 

 2.75; depth 3.8; pectoral 4.8. Snout in head 2.8; eye 7.8; interorbital 

 7.8; maxillary 2.25; caudal peduncle 3.3; second anal spine 5.4; 

 ventral spine 4.4; pectoral 1.75. D. X, 13; A. Ill, 7; P. 19; scales 

 8-82; gill rakers 6+13. 



Range. — Galdpagos Islands and northern Peru. 



Genus PARALABRAX Girard, 1856 



Body elongate, compressed; head rather pointed; mouth large; 

 teeth in jaws in bands, not depressible, the outer ones in each jaw 

 more or less enlarged, small pointed teeth on vomer and palatines; 

 vertical limb of preopercle finely serrate, lower limb with few serrae, 

 often more or less hidden; scales small, ctenoid; dorsal with 10 spines, 

 some of the anterior ones sometimes considerably elevated, soft rays 

 about 12 to 15; caudal slightly rounded to lunate; anal witii 3 spines 

 and 7 soft rays; ventrals inserted under or slightly behind base of 

 pectorals. 



Two species are known from Peiu. 



