286 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



margin, the second spine moderately strong, rather variable in length, 

 3.0 to 4.0 in head; ventral inserted under or slightly behind base of 

 pectoral, the outer ray sometimes with a slight filament, 1.7 to 1.9 

 in head; pectoral rather long, reaching well beyond tip of ventral, 

 the fifth or sixth ray (counting downward) longest, 1.25 to 1.35 in 

 head, 3.8 to 4.2 in length. 



Color grayish above, with bluish metallic reflections; silvery below; 

 rows of scales along side with rather definite dark streaks ; inner lining 

 of gill covers silvery, with scattered dusky points; fins all more or less 

 dusky, the ventral lighter than the others; axil of pectoral black, this 

 color extending diffusely on inner side of fin. 



S. deliciosa is represented by nine specimens, 210 to 330 mm. (178 to 

 263 mm. to base of caudal) long. Two of these were furnished by the 

 Mission, and the rest are included in the general collection of the U. S. 

 National Museum. The specimens were collected at Lobos de Tierra 

 Island, Callao, and Mollendo. It is stated in the report of the Mission 

 (1943, p. 284) that the fish were caught with hand lines, gill nets, and 



Figure 60. — Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi). From a specimen 225 mm, long, Callao, Peru 

 (U.S.N.M. No. 77651). (After Evermann and Radcliffe, 1917.) 



seines and that an average length of about 250 mm. and a maximum 

 length of about 400 mm, are attained. It is reported, furthermore, 

 that fishes called "ayanques" were caught at Santa Island, and others 

 called "cachema"^^ were taken at Puerto Pizarro and at Lobos de 

 Tierra Island. This species is a highly prized food fish, of which 

 rather large quantities are landed between Puerto Pizarro and Chala, 

 the chief ports being Callao and Paita. 



Range. — Coast of Peru. Recorded from Panama Bay by Jordan 

 and Eigenmann (see reference above), who identified a few specimens 

 from Panama, in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, as this species. 

 It has not been taken there by recent collectors. 



'8 It is probable that at least two species are included in the rather numerous local names that have been 

 furnished by collectors, as the species are not well understood even by the taxonomist. 



