THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 219 



line with a low arch anteriorly, its chord much shorter than straight 

 part, 3.5 in length, straight part without definite scutes, but vnih a 

 suggestion of a keel on caudal peduncle; scales small, extending for- 

 ward on parietal region (embedded), and on cheeks; first dorsal low, 

 fourth spine longest, scarcely longer than eye; second dorsal and anal 

 similar in shape, the latter much the shorter, both elevated anteriorly, 

 the dorsal a little higher, its longest ray 1.3 in head; last ray of each fin 

 somewhat produced ; origin of anal under about the thirteenth ray of 

 second dorsal, the fins coterminal, base of anal 3.4 in length; ventral 

 narrow, fully as long as pectoral, inserted immediately behind base 

 of pectoral; pectoral short and broad, 1.8 in head, 6.0 in length. 



Color brownish above; this color merging into silvery gray along 

 side; ventral fins dirty white; other fins brownish; pectoral dark 

 brown at base; posterior margin of caudal pale. 



The Mission furnished a single large specimen, 1,000 mm. (812 mm. 

 to base of caudal) long. It was taken in the Gulf of Guayaquil, near 

 Cabo Blanco, on a line trawl in about 12 fathoms. This fish appar- 

 ently is caught commercially with hand lines in the vicinity of Talara 

 and Cabo Blanco, over rocky areas. A large size is attained. Walford 

 (1937, p. 63) reported one from Cape San Lucas, Baja California, 

 weighing 112 pounds. Large individuals examined by me at Pearl 

 Islands, Panama, had fed excusively on fish. 



Range. — Cape San Lucas, Baja California, to the Gulf of Guayaquil, 

 in northern Peru, and the Galdpagos Islands. 



SERIOLA MAZATLANA Steindachner 



Seriola mazatlana Steindachner, 1876, p. 8, Mazatldn, Mexico (original descrip- 

 tion, based on a 150-mm. specimen). — Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, p. 395, 

 Panama Bay (references; description, based on young; range). — Walford, 

 1937, p. 64, pi. 5, fig. a (diagnosis). 



fSeriola peruana Steindachner, 1881, p. 13, figs, la-lb, Callao, Peru (original 

 description, based on 3 specimens 380 to 390 mm. long). 



The following proportions and enumerations are based on specimens 

 50 to 450 mm. (40 to 345 mm. to base of caudal) long from Panama Bay 

 and the Galdpagos Islands, there being no specimens from Peru at 

 hand. Proportions given in Steindachner's description of S. peruana 

 that are comparable are given in parentheses. 



Head in length 2.8 to 3.5; depth 2.6 to 3.6; pectoral 5.0 to 6.9. Eye 

 in head 3.25 to 4.5 (3.75 to 3.8); snout 3.0 to 3.7 (3.6); interorbital 

 3.1 to 3.25 (3.25 to 3.4); maxillary 2.5 to 2.7; longest ray of second 

 dorsal 2.4 to 2.6 in specimens 250 to 450 mm. long, 1.6 to 1.95 in speci- 

 mens 52 to 130 mm. long; ventral 1.3 to 1.65; pectoral 1.55 to 1.75 

 (about 2.0). D. VII-I, 31 to 34 (VII-I, 32 to 34) ; A. II, I, 20 to 22 

 (II-I, 21 or 22) ; P. 19 to 21 (19) ; gill rakers 6 to 8 + 20 to 22. 



The very young, under about 100 mm., are banded with black. The 

 larger specimens are uniform grayish brown above; silvery below. 



