128 BULLETIN 95^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Our onl}^ example from Mollendo has the following measure- 

 ments: Head 2.77 in length; depth 2.92; eye 6.5 in head; snout 2.6; 

 interorbital 3.22; pectoral 1.56; D. XII, 10; A. Ill, 12; scales 

 9-54-20. 



This individual is olive yellow in spirits and the blotch on front 

 of dorsal is black. 



According to Dr. R. E. Coker, this species shows remarkable color 

 variation in life, and doubtless individual specimens are subject to 

 marked changes of color. Some, like No. 09465, are flaming red; 

 others, as No. 09466, are of a somber chocolate color with a reddish 

 tinge only in places ; underside of head dusky, except region of lower 

 lip which is white ; small olive spots more or less noticeable on top of 

 head; caudal, centrally and distally, olive tinted. 



Steindachner's statement, in Fauna Chilensis, that the formula 

 for the transverse rows of scales is 8/1/9 is evidently an error and 

 should be read 8/1/19. 



Genus HALICHOERES Ruppell. 



153. HALICHOERES DISPILUS (GUnther). 

 SAN PEDEANO ; DONCELLA. 



Platyglossus dispilus Guntheb, Proc. ZooL Soc. London, 1864, p. 25; 



Panama. 

 Ealichoeres dispilus Jordan, Fisbes of Sinaloa, Proc. California Acad. 



Sci., 2, vol 5, 1895, p. 481, pi. 45; Panama. 

 Iridio dispilus Jordan and E\"ekmann, Fishes North and Mid. Amer., 



vol. 2, 1898, p. 1597. 



One specimen, field No. 423, 19.8 cm. long, from Callao, near San 

 Lorenzo Island ; one, field No. 09631, 16 cm. long, from Independencia 

 Bay, Santa Eosa Island ; and one, field No. 09488, 18.3 cm. long, and 

 two, field No. 09499, 8.8 and 15.2 cm. long, from Lobos de Afuera. 



Head 3.18 to 3.37 in length ; depth 3.5 to 3.6 ; eye 6.3 to 7.3 in head ; 

 snout 3 to 3.2; interorbital 4.4 to 4.9; pectoral 1.4 to 1.44; D. IX, 

 114 ; A. Ill, 12 ; scales 2^-2 7-9. 



Body slender, compressed; curvature of dorsal and ventral out- 

 lines similar; greatest depth of body under fourth dorsal spine; 

 head moderate, snout pointed; eye small, about 2 in interorbital; 

 mouth small, jaws subequal, lips flesh}^; four strong canines in 

 front of each jaw followed by a single row of smaller teeth; a 

 strong canine at posterior end of upper jaw, its tip directed forward; 

 dorsal spines short, flexible, their tips barely projecting beyond the 

 membrane; posterior rays of dorsal longest, about 2.75 in head; 

 caudal double-concave; anal similar to soft dorsal; ventrals small, 

 tips reaching halfway from base to origin or anal; pectoral short 

 and broad. 



