THE SHORE FISHES OF PERU 399 



and becoming straight over anterior part of anal, chord of curved 

 part and straight part of about equal length; pores and tubes numer- 

 ous on head; scales moderately small, thin, not extending on head, not 

 greatly reduced above lateral line, 7 or 8 oblique rows between lateral 

 line and sLxth dorsal spine, those in lateral line little modified, scarcely 

 larger than the others on middle of side; dorsal fin beginning over 

 margin of preopercle, the spines stiff, graduated, the longest ones at 

 or behind middle of spinous part of fin, 2.7 to 3,1 in head, the soft 

 part much shorter and notably higher than the spinous part; caudal 

 broadly rounded, about as long as head without snout; anal beginning 

 under middle of spinous part of dorsal and endmg about under next 

 to last ray of dorsal, highest posteriorly, its longest ray scarcely shorter 

 than the longest one of dorsal, its base 2.2 to 2.5 in length; ventral 

 rather long, 1.4 to 1.75 in head; pectoral large, the longest rays below 

 middle of fin, 1.25 to 1.4 in head, 4.2 to 4.6 in length. 



Color variable, light to dark brown; the smaller specimens nearly 

 all with irregular dark cross bars, more or less broken up into spots 

 in some individuals; some specimens with irregular light markings; 

 side of head generally with two or three dark streaks; fins plain light 

 olivaceous to rather dark brown, with or without dark and light spots, 

 those on pectoral, if numerous, arranged to form cross lines; pectoral 

 generally with a dark line across base. The two largest specimens at 

 hand nearly uniform brown; soft part of dorsal and caudal with pale 

 spots; anal dark; pectoral with dark streak across base. 



This species is represented in the collection made by the Mission 

 by 13 rather small specimens, 43 to 82 mm. (37 to 77 mm. to base of 

 caudal) long, collected in rocky coves in Lobos de Tierra Bay and in 

 Lobos de Afuera Bay. Three larger specimens, two 140 and 180 mm. 

 (118 and 152 mm. to base of caudal) long, collected at Paita by W. L. 

 Schmitt, and one 145 mm. (119 to base of caudal) long, from Lobos 

 de Afuera Island, secured by R. E. Coker, also were studied. This 

 material forms the basis for the foregoing description. 



The Peruvian specimens were compared with others from Guayaquil, 

 Ecuador, Panama Bay, and Mexico. The specimens from Guayaquil 

 are in entire agreement with the Peruvian examples. However, the 

 ones from Panama Bay and Mexico seem to have a rather broader 

 interorbital, and the eye, snout, and maxillary perhaps are a little 

 longer. Furthermore, the specimens from the last-mentioned locali- 

 ties have the palatine teeth in narrow bands, rather than in two or 

 three series as in the Peruvian examples. When more specimens of 

 nearly equal size become available, it may be possible to show that 

 the inhabitants of the two general regions named are subspecifically 

 distinct. 



Range — Gulf of California to Peru. 



