THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 355 



with about eight longitudinal series of greatly broadened teeth with 

 narrow cutting edges; upper pharyngeal plates nearly twice as long 

 as broad, each with three series of teeth like those on the lower plate; 

 gill rakers little developed, some of them branched; lateral line inter- 

 rupted just behind last ray of dorsal, resumed on middle of caudal 

 peduncle, generally one row of scales in advance of last pore in the 

 main branch; scales large, with membranous margins, extending on 

 base of caudal, last scale in lateral line very large, generally pointed, 

 scales extending forward on head to but not on interorbital, three scales 

 on median line in advance of dorsal, a single row of four scales on 

 cheek, not reduced on chest, three on median Hne in advance of 

 ventrals, one and a partial row between lateral line and first dorsal 

 spine; dorsal fin continuous, the spines weak and flexible, with short, 

 slender filaments in the larger specimens; soft part somewhat higher 

 than spinous part; caudal rounded at all ages; anal similar to soft part 

 of dorsal, the spines very weak; ventral inserted under base of pectoral, 

 1.6 to 1.8 in head; pectoral broadly rounded, reaching to, or slightly 

 beyond, tip of ventral, 1.4 to 1.7 in head, 4.9 to 5.8 in length. 



Color rather variable, dark gray to rather pale gray above, light 

 gray underneath; scales often darker at base than elsewhere; the 

 smaller specimens often with one or more indefinite light streaks on 

 lower half of side; chin wholly dusky or with only a dark cross bar, 

 followed by two or three dusky cross bars on lower half and ventral 

 side of head; dorsal, caudal, and anal nearly uniform dark gray in the 

 dark specimens, lighter with pale and dark spots in the lighter gray 

 specimens; caudal with a pale margin; ventral wholly or in part dusky 

 gray, occasionally spotted; pectoral dark at base, otherwise plain 

 olivaceous. A few" small specimens, under 50 mm, in length, are almost 

 plain olivaceous, only a few dark specks being present. 



The collection made by the Mission contains 39 specimens, ranging 

 from 33 to 280 mm. in length. The proportions and enumerations in 

 the description are based on 16 specimens, including the type (U.S. 

 N.M. No. 77619), 45 to 280 mm. (35 to 234 mm. to base of caudal) 

 long. The specimens were taken in Lobos de Tierra Bay, Lobos de 

 Afuera Bay, Don Martin Island, and North Chincha Island. 



Range. — Known only from the coast of Peru. Previously known 

 from only two specimens from Lobos de Afuera. 



Family MUGILOIDIDAE 



Body elongate, more or less compressed ; mouth moderate or large, 

 horizontal to somewhat oblique; vomer and sometimes palatines with 

 teeth; scales small; dorsal fin long, continuous anal similar, but shorter; 

 ventrals thoracic, generally somewhat in advance of pectorals; pec- 

 toral rays all, or nearly all divided. 



A single genus is included in the^Peruvian|collections'studied, 



