448 BULLETIN ISO, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



length 2.45; depth 2.5; pectoral 2.7, Eye in head 4.8; snout 3.2; 

 interorbital 6.0; maxillary 1.7; caudal peduncle 3.5; longest dorsal 

 spine 2.1; second anal spine 2.0; ventral 1.33; pectoral 1.1. D. XII, 

 1 ; A . Ill, 5 ; P. 1 5 ; gill rakers 4 + 9 ; scales 5-44 . 



The specimens herein described are the ones listed as S. histrio by 

 Fowler (see reference above). However, they differ from that species, 

 as well as from the other local forms, in the smaller number of pectoral 

 rays and in several other respects. In the smaller number of pectoral 

 rays they agree with S. thomsonii Giinther (1880, p. 24) and S. fer- 

 nandeziana Stemdachner (1875a, p. 9), both from the Juan Fernandez 

 Islands, Chile, but differ in having a single instead of several spines 

 on the suborbital stay. Furthermore, the mouth is larger, and the 

 coronal spines are missing in S. thomsonii and S. Jernandeziana. 



Range. — Peru; known only from the type material. 



Genus PONTINUS Poey, 1860 



This genus differs from Scorpaena in having all the rays of the 

 pectoral simple, and with their tips free. The suborbital stay usually 

 bears three or four spines, the occipital pit usually is missing, and the 

 scales generally are ctenoid. 



A single species is represented in the Peruvian collections studied. 



PONTINUS DUBIUS Steindachner 



PUNAL 



Pontinus dubius Steindachner, 1902, p. 124, pi. 3, fig. 1, Paita, Peru (original 

 description; considered somewhat doubtfully distinct from P. furcirhinus 

 Garman by Steindachner). — Evermann and Radcliffe, 1917, p. 138, Paita, 

 Peru (reference; description). 



Head 2.4; depth 3.25; D. XII, 10; A. Ill, 5; P. 18; scales 55. 



Body rather slender, compressed, its greatest thickness scarcely 

 two-thirds of its depth; dorsal profile anterior to dorsal fin gently 

 convex; caudal peduncle moderately slender, compressed, 4.2 in 

 head; snout rather broad, 3.3; eye 3.9; interorbital deeply concave, 

 10.3; mouth large, little oblique; lower jaw slightly included, with a 

 slight knob at tip; maxillary broad, not quite reaching vertical from 

 posterior margin of eye, 1.95 in head; teeth small, pointed, in a band 

 on each jaw, vomer, and palatines, the band in upper jaw separated 

 along median line, each part with a knob covered with teeth opposite 

 median toothless space; spines on head well developed, nasal spine 

 strong, pre-, supra-, and post-ocular spines and tympanic spine in a 

 row; parietal and nuchal spines in a separate row nearer midline; 

 coronal spines wanting; a strong spine behind eye, with two small 

 spines near its base; 4 spines in scapular region in two rows, each with 

 two spines, those of upper row low and blunt; a flat spine directed 

 obliquely upward attached to shoulder girdle above base of pectoral; 



