THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 291 



of interradial membranes of caudal, also extending slightly on base of 

 ventral and of pectoral, 10, 9 slightly oblique rows between lateral line 

 and first dorsal spine, about an equal number between it and first ray 

 of second dorsal; dorsal fins close together, the spines moderately 

 strong, the third or fourth longest, not reaching beyond tip of any 

 succeeding spine, 2.5, 2.9 in head; second dorsal long, rather low, 

 highest anteriorly, the longest rays a little shorter than the longest 

 spines; caudal rather deeply lunate, both lobes acute, the upper one 

 slightly the longer; anal with a rather deeply concave margin, the 

 second spine moderately small, about half as long as first soft ray, 

 6.0, 5.75 in head; ventral inserted almost immediately behind base 

 of pectoral, 2.0, 2.0 in head; pectoral rather short, not reaching tip of 

 ventral, the fifth and sixth rays (counting downward) longest, 2.1, 

 2.0 m head, 6.8, 6.7 m length. 



Color of old preserved specimens grayish brown above, with bluish 

 reflections ; lower parts yellowish straw color, with silvery reflections ; 

 rows of scales, except on lower parts, marked with dark lines; dorsal 

 fins, caudal, and pectoral more or less dusky; other fins paler. 



The description is based on two specimens, the type of S. gilberti 

 Starks (U.S.N.M. No. 53464), which is S. starksi Evermann and 

 Radcliffe, as shown by the synonymy given at the head of this account, 

 and another specimen (U.S.N.M. No. 77731), secured by R. E. Coker. 

 The specimens are from Callao and La Ventanilla and are 490 and 460 

 mm. (391 and 382 mm. to base of caudal) long. In the description the 

 proportions and enumeration given first in each instance pertain to the 

 type. According to E,. E. Coker, as quoted by Evermann and Rad- 

 cliffe (see reference above), this species reaches a weight of 30 to 40 

 pounds. However, S. vneneri seems to bear the local name "robalo." 

 The two species, if indeed they are distinct, are not known to have been 

 recognized by collectors. A large specimen, 1,000 mm. long, furnished 

 by the Mission, seems to be S. vneneri, and is so named and described 

 in these pages. Although several differences are apparent between 

 this large specimen and the much smaller ones herein described as 

 S. starksi, it is impossible to determine to what extent they are the 

 result of the great difference in size, or perhaps individual variation. 

 It would not be surprising if the study of additional specimens, 

 especially of intermediate sizes, would show S. starksi to be a synonym. 

 For the present, then, it may be regarded as uncertain that S. starksi at- 

 tains the large size ascribed to it. The differences in structure 

 noticed are shown in the parallel comparison supplied herewith. 



