270 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Color grayish to brownish, with or without dark cross bars; lower 

 parts pale or silvery; one specimen with eight cross bars, the anterior 

 ones quite distinct, the posterior ones obscure, another specimen with- 

 out bars, the first one being perhaps represented by a dark shoulder spot, 

 other specimens intermediate as to the development of cross bars ; fins 

 all more or less dusky, generally darker toward distal margins, inner 

 side of pectoral quite dark. The differences in color apparently are 

 quite unrelated to age, as the smallest and largest specimens at hand 

 are plainest. 



This species is represented in the collections studied by five speci- 

 mens, 210 to 380 mm. (204 to 310 mm, to base of caudal) long, upon 

 which the description is based. The largest specimen was secured by 

 K. E. Coker, at Callao. The others were collected by the Mission 

 with an otter trawl, one in Sechura Bay, near Sechura, one in Paita 

 Bay, and two at the Isla Santa, near Chimbote. These specimens 

 seem to agree with the original description in all respects, except that 

 the second dorsal and anal are not covered with scales. As the rest 

 of the description is quite accurate for the specimens herein described, 

 this one point perhaps may be passed over as a mistaken observation. 



It is indicated in the report of the Mission (1943, p. 276) that this 

 species is of considerable commercial importance in northern Peru. 

 No catch for the other species of the genus is mentioned. As they 

 quite certainly are not separated for the market, it may be assumed 

 that the catch reported was composed of all the local species of the 

 genus. 



Range. — Known only from the coast of Peru. 



PARALONCHURUS DUMERILn (Bocourt) 



Polycirrhus dumerilii Bocourt, 1869, p. 22, La Uni6n, El Salvador (original 



description). 

 Paralonchurus dumerilii Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, p. 672, Panama Bay 



(synonj'my; description; range). 



Head 3.6, 3.7; depth 3.6, 3.7; D. IX-I, 24, IX-I, 24; A. II, 7, II, 7; 

 P. 17, 19; scales 58, 58. 



Body elongate compressed, more or less V-shaped anteriorly in 

 cross section, the back being very thin, greatest thickness of body 

 about two-thirds its depth; profile convex over snout and at nape, 

 nearly straight over eyes; head low, broad; caudal peduncle rather 

 long, compressed, 2.9, 2.9 in head; snout somewhat conical, projecting 

 beyond premaxillaries, 3.5, 3.75 in head; eye large, 5.0, 4.75; interor- 

 bital moderately broad, convex, 3.1, 3.0; mouth only slightly oblique; 

 lower jaw included; maxillary reaching nearly to posterior margin of 

 pupil, 3.1, 2.9 in head; teeth in a band in each jaw, interrupted ante- 

 riorly in lower jaw, the outer teeth in upper jaw not perceptibly en- 

 larged; preopercle with a finely ciliated membranous margin; gill 

 rakers very small, mere points, 8, 7 more or less developed on lower 



