282 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



are based on the type: Head in length 3.0; depth 3.4; pectoral 5.3. 

 Eye in head 4.2; snout 4.2; interorbital 4.4; maxillary 2.1; caudal 

 peduncle 3.1; longest dorsal spine 1.9; second anal spine 2.8; ventral 

 1.5; pectoral 1.6. D. X-I, 25; A. II, 8; P. 15; scales 8-58; gill rakers 

 7 + 16. 



The principal differences between this species and 0. xanthops 

 Gilbert, the only species heretofore known from the Pacific coast of 

 America, are shown in the accompanying parallel comparison. As 

 the specimens of the two species are of unequal size (those of xaiithops 

 being 150 to 180 mm. long), the differences in proportions and color 

 shown may not be entirely reliable. 



0. australis 



First dorsal with 10 spines. 



Pectoral with 15 or 16 rays. 



Body quite compressed, elongate, depth 



3.4 to 3.75 in length. 

 Eye small, 3.8 to 4.4 in head. 

 Sides with 3 dark longitudinal bands, 



and a large dark caudal spot. 



0. xanthops 



First dorsal with 11 or 12 spines. 



Pectoral with 17 ra3's. 



Body more robust, rather deeper, depth 



3.1 to 3.3 in length. 

 Eye 3.3 to 3.8 in head. 

 Dark stripes extending along the rows of 



scales, longitudinal bands wanting, no 



caudal spot. 



Range. — Known only from the type material from Lobos de Tierra 



Bay, Peru. 



Genus SCIAENA Linnaeus, 1758 



Body moderately elongate; head rather low, more or less conical; 

 mouth terminal or inferior; teeth in jaws in a band, occasionally in a 

 few series, the outer ones frequently and the inner series occasionally 

 more or less enlarged; snout and mandible with conspicuous slits and 

 pores; no barbels; preopercle usually with a crenulate membranous 

 edge, sometimes with small spines at angle; gill rakers short, rather 

 few, 8 to 15 more or less developed on lower limb of first arch; first 

 dorsal with about 9 or 10 spines; second dorsal with about 21 to 28 

 soft rays; anal small, with about 8 to 10 soft rays. (The number of 

 gill rakers and fin rays given applies only to species occurring in Peru.) 



The series of scales are irregular, and enumerations based on one 

 specimen, even if made by one individual, may vary by as much as 

 three or four if counted two or more times. Whether they are counted 

 in the lateral line, below it or above it, also makes a difference. The 

 irregularity of the series of scales, together with the lack of uniformity 

 in counting them no doubt has resulted in the wide differences in the 

 number of scales given in different publications for one species. The 

 number of scales given in the descriptions of the species of this genus 

 that follow, as in virtually aU descriptions in this catalog, is based on 

 the vertical series, which were counted just above the lateral Hne. 

 The number of longitudinal series includes only full rows, reduced 

 scales at the base of the fins, if present, having been excluded. The 



