430 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



sometimes present or absent in specimens of equal size, none observed 

 in specimens under 130 mm. long; gill rakers slender, about three- 

 fourths length of eye, about 7 to 9 developed on upper and 24 to 28 

 on lower hmb of first arch; lateral Une not definitely developed, but 

 scattered scales with pores; scales small, cycloid, adherent, variable 

 in number, longitudinal rows quite constant; first dorsal composed of 

 very slender spines, its origin over or in advance of tips of ventrals; 

 second dorsal slightly elevated anteriorly, with concave margin, the 

 longest rays failing to reach the tip of the last slightly produced one, 

 origin of fin about over middle of base of anal; anal similar to dorsal, 

 though longer, its base 5.9 to 6.4 in length; ventral small, scarcely 

 longer than snout in large examples, about as long as snout and half 

 the eye in very small specimens, inserted notably nearer tip of snout 

 than base of caudal; pectoral pointed, 5.9 to 6.5 in length, 1.3 to 1.5 

 in head. 



Color of preserved specimens brownish above, pale below; side with 

 a broad silvery band, sometimes dark brown (probably according to 

 preservative used), with a dark margin above, band nearly as broad 

 as eye in large examples, narrower in small ones; dorsal fins, caudal 

 and pectoral with dusky points; other fins pale. 



Table 3. — Ferquency distribution of length of head, number of spines in first dorsal, 

 and number of anal rays in Austromenidia regia and A. laticlavia 



The Mission preserved 29 specimens, ranging in length from 38 to 

 163 mm. (32 to 135 mm. to base of caudal), which in part were taken 

 in a gill net, some were gigged at night, some seined, and others were 

 caught under a light. The specimens were collected at Supe Harbor, 

 Mazorka Island in the Huaura group, Callao, Chilca Bay, and Inde- 

 pendencia Bay. Fifteen additional specimens in the U. S. National 

 Museum, mostly large ones, ranging up to 270 mm. (225 mm. to base 

 of caudal) in length, collected at Ancon, Callao, and Paracas Bay, are 

 also at hand. 



The specimens from Peru were compared with 17 specimens of A. 

 laticlavia, 65 to 245 mm. (58 to 210 mm. to base of caudal) in length, 

 from Valparaiso and Lota, Chile. The Chilean specimens appear to 

 be at the most only subspecifically distinct. It had been reported that 

 Chilean specimens have a smaller head, which is confirmed by meas- 

 urements based on 20 Peruvian specimens and 17 Chilean specimens 



