496 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



beginning approximately above base of opercular spine, becoming 

 indefinite or ending somewhere near tip of pectoral, the third one 

 beginning at median line of isthmus, running between bases of ventrals, 

 then outward and upward along lower part of side, joined by a short 

 branch originating behind base of pectoral, becoming indefinite and 

 disappearing somewhere above base of anal, the lowermost series 

 extending along base of anal; other series of pores on head consisting 

 principally of a series along rim of snout, passing under eye and 

 upward and downward to base of opercular spine, another short 

 series beginning behind preopercle and extending nearly to upper 

 anterior angle of gill opening, another series on mandible extending 

 along margin of opercle, two rows on basal half of caudal fin (all lines 

 subject to some variation among specimens); most of the pores with 

 tentacles; dorsal fins well separated, the first with two stiff spines, 

 the second spine the longer, about three-fourths diameter of eye, 

 origin of fin over base of pectoral, its distance from margin of snout 

 3.3 to 3.8 in length; second dorsal long and low, extending nearly to 

 base of caudal, none of the rays greatly exceeding width of inter- 

 orbital; caudal about as long as postorbital part of head, with convex 

 margin; anal fin similar to second dorsal, its origin a little behind 

 that of second dorsal and extending to base of caudal, its base 1.6 

 to 1.8 in length; ventrals close together, inserted about half an eye's 

 diameter behind posterior margin of maxillary, scarcely reaching 

 base of pectoral, 2.0 to 2.5 in head; pectoral broad at base, more or 

 less pointed, the middle rays longest, generally about as long as head, 

 3.5 to 4.4 in length. 



Color brownish above; pale or silvery on side and below; head plain 

 brown above; back with four or five dark saddles, most distinct in 

 young, becoming obscure and disappearing with age; dorsal fin pale, 

 with four to six conspicuous widely spaced dark spots on outer half 

 or so of fin; caudal pale at base, distal half dark; anal pale, or pos- 

 teriorly with one or two dark blotches on margin; pectoral pale, except 

 for brownish base in young, developing brownish cross markings with 

 age. 



This species is represented by rather numerous specimens in the 

 collections from Peru, mostly rather small. The proportions and 

 enumerations used in the description are based on seven specimens 

 32 to 140 mm. (26 to 122 mm. to base of caudal) long. The Mission 

 secured specimens in Samanco Bay, in Cbilca Bay, and off Canete. 

 R. E. Coker took a specimen at Lobos de Afuera, which was made 

 the type of Porichthys afuerae by Evermann and Radcliffe (see refer- 

 ence above); and W. L, Schmitt collected specimens at Lobos de 

 Afuera Island, Callao, and in Independencia Bay. 



Range.— Coasts of Peru and Chile. 



