76 BULLETIN 95, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



and beginning a short distance posterior to eye, to upper part of 

 peduncle; a third, at a corresponding distance above the second; a 

 darker mottling on the sides gives an indistinct effect of crossbar- 

 ring, especially on upper part of sides; sides, below lowest stripe, 

 dusky, greenish with much gold ; below white with a tinge of orange 

 along median line of belly; head above olive with reddish spots, 

 orange on lower part of sides; under side of opercle with jet black 

 and gold ; skin posterior to fourth gill blue-black ; caudal mostly red- 

 dish orange, ventral margin pale; dorsal light olive with large spots 

 of bright orange; a little black on tips of membrane between dorsal 

 spines; pectorals olivaceous; ventrals mixed dusky olive and orange; 

 anal mostly white, but with some orange on membrane between con- 

 secutive rays. (The above description is based on a specimen, No. 

 09529, 27.5 cm. in length, from Lobos de Tierra.) 



Comparative measurements of a specimen No. 09558, 30.1 cm. in 

 length, from Paita : head 2.73 in length ; depth 3.95 ; eye 5.36 in 

 head; snout 3.75; maxillary 2.34; interorbital (bone) 9; pectoral 

 1.43; ventral 1.67; D. X, 12; A. Ill, 7. 



Color in life of field No. 09543, 11.8 cm. long; back and sides oliva- 

 ceous, mottled with reddish ; rather inconspicuous short orange stripe 

 on posteriw ends of premaxillary and maxillary, extending poste- 

 riorily and ventrally; region of upper teeth yellow; roof of mouth 

 and floor, (posterior to anterior ventral end of first branchial arch) 

 yellow, sometimes with some black on each side above and below; 

 lining of gill cavity black posteriorly; large bright yellow spot on 

 side, forward of anus and just below mid-line; belly yellow in 

 median line, in posterior half ; dorsal translucent, but thinly mottled 

 with olivaceous and orange; membrane just posterior to each spine 

 tipped with reddish orange ; a minute black speck on membrane just 

 at tip of each spine; soft dorsal tipped with reddish orange; anal 

 almost entirely yellow ; caudal and ventrals dusky olivaceous. 



Genus PRIONODES Jenyns. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



a\ Anal rays 7. 



6\ Eye 5.5 in head, shortei* than snont ; interorbital 6.4; depth of body 3.15; 

 distal half of soft dorsal and outer caudal rays with numerous small 



jet black spots ; caudal, anal, and ventrals mottled fasciatus, p. 77. 



b". Eye 4 in head, equal in length to snout ; interorbital 8 ; depth of body 4 ; 



fins without spots or stripes huascarii, p. 78. 



a*. Anal rays 9 ; reddish brown with a pale stripe along lateral line ; head, 

 body, and sides silvery, with seven or eight large, round spots ; dorsal 

 yellowish, edged with red ; caudal brownish ; anal reddish brown with two 

 rounded reddish-brown spots peruanus, p, 78. 



