486 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



specimen (200 mm. long) at hand. The larger ones agree in general, 

 though the pale bands are less distinct, and in one specimen the ground 

 color of the back is lighter. 



The description is based on three specimens, respectively 200, 235, 

 and 265 mm. (158, 187, and 205 mm. to base of caudal) long, col- 

 lected in Paita Harbor and at Lobos de Tierra Island by the Mission. 

 There also is at hand a specimen in rather bad condition, 220 mm. 

 long, taken in the Tumbes Kiver by K. E. Coker. This material was 

 compared with several specimens from the Galdpagos Islands, and 

 with others from Panama Bay and the Gulf of California all identified 

 as this species. Much variation was noticed in the size of the eye, in 

 the width of the interorbital, in the size and shape of the dental 

 plates, in the prominence of the prickles, and in color. However, no 

 characters constant enough to be of specific value were discovered, 

 though more specimens need to be studied critically before it can be 

 stated definitely that specific differences do not exist. 



Range. — Northern Peru, the GaUpagos Islands, and probably 

 northward to the Gulf of California. 



SPHOEROIDES SECHURAE, new species 

 P6NCOfJOL 



Figure 92 



?Spheroides lobatus Nichols and Murphy (not of Steindachner, probably this 

 species), 1922, p. 511, Lobos de Tierra Island, Peru. 



Head 2.2 to 2.7; depth at vertical from base of pectoral 3.3 to 3.9, 

 D. 8; A. 7; P. 14 or 15. 



Body moderately robust, fully as wide as deep at base of pectoral; 

 head quite large, its width and depth about equal at eyes, its dorsal 

 profile gently convex; caudal peduncle depressed, 5.25 to 5.8 in head; 

 snout moderately long, somewhat conical, 2.0 to 2.6; eye small, 5.25 

 to 8.0; interorbital flat, moderately broad, 5.8 to 7.0; mouth small, 

 transverse, lower jaw included; dental plate in each jaw with hori- 

 zontal striations as if built up in layers; lateral line not well marked, 

 apparently beginning behind angle of mouth, running close under 

 eye and high on back, but descending to middle of side under dorsal 

 fin, no accessory branches evident on head; spinules present every- 

 where except around the mouth and a median area in advance of 

 upper and lower ray of caudal, fewest and smallest on lower part of 

 side behind about midbody length, largest on back and belly; no 

 dermal flaps; dorsal fin only moderately high, first ray less than half 

 length of second, third and fourth rays longest, 2.2 to 2.5 in head; 

 caudal with nearly straight margin; anal small, its origin a little 

 behind that of dorsal, its margin convex, middle rays longest, 2.4 to 



