264 BULLETIN 18 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



of ventral spine than vertical from end of dorsal; ventral inserted 

 rather less than half an eye's diameter behind base of pectoral, 1.7 

 in head; axiUary process of ventral broadly rounded, about half 

 length of eye; pectoral moderately large, reaching well beyond tip 

 of ventral, 1,15 in head, 3.8 in length. 



Color grayish brown above, becoming paler with bluish reflections 

 on side; pale with dusky points underneath; first dorsal, anal, ventral, 

 and pectoral quite dark, the pectoral being darkest on inner side; 

 second dorsal and caudal more or less olivaceous, with dusky punc- 

 tulations at least along margins. 



This species is represented by a single specimen, 200 mm. (165 mm. 

 to base of caudal) long (U.S.N.M. No. 128004), taken in a gill net in 

 Paita Bay by the Mission. This species is rather near M. nasus 

 (Giinther), known from Panama Bay and northward to the Gulf of 

 California, differing in having a slenderer body, smaller scales, appar- 



FiGURE 57. — Menticirrhus paitensis, new species. From the type, 200 mm. long, Paita 

 Bay, Peru (U.S.N.M. No. 128004). 



ently in having one more dorsal spine, one fewer anal ray, and in 

 having only one instead of two dorsal spines produced, These and 

 a few other apparent differences are shown in the accompanying 

 parallel comparison, based on the specimen described, and on 4 

 specimens, 145 to 255 mm. long, of M. nasus from Panama Bay. 



M. nasus 

 Body only moderately slender, its depth 



3.8 to 4.0 in length; caudal peduncle 



2.7 to 3.0 in head. 

 Head notably deeper than broad over 



margin of preopercle. 

 Scales 66 to 58; 25 or 26 vertical series 



on side between origin of anal and 



base of caudal. 

 Dorsal rays X-I, 21 to 23. 

 Anal rays I, 8. 

 Second and third dorsal spines produced, 



reaching far beyond origin of second 



dorsal if defiexed, 1.05 to 1.25 in head. 

 Ventral with a pointed axillary process, 



about as long as eye. 



M. paitensis 

 Body rather slender, its depth 5.0 in 

 length; caudal peduncle 3.5 in head. 



Head about equal in width and depth 



over margin of preopercle. 

 Scales 65; 28 vertical series on side 



between origin of anal and base of 



caudal. 

 Dorsal rays XI-I, 24. 

 Anal rays, I, 7. 

 Third dorsal spine, only, somewhat 



produced, not quite reaching origin of 



second dorsal, 1.9 in head. 

 Ventral with a broadly rounded axillary 



process, about half length of eye. 



Range. — Known only from the type specimen from Paita, Peru. 



