142 BULLETIN 95, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



2.47; length of caudal 1.3; scales large, ciliated, those on anterior 

 part of body and near margins of disk becoming smaller. 



Color in alcohol, dark brown with traces of darker spots; the rays 

 of the fins with darker markings ; lower surface yellowish, scales with 

 silvery centers, which tend to form longitudinal lines along the rows 

 of scales. 



D. 86; A. 67 in smaller individual. 



This species occurs on the Pacific coast of tropical America and is 

 abundant in sandy bays from Guaymas to Panama, ascending all the 

 streams. (Jordan and Evermann.) 



Starks states that an example from Guayaquil was very dark in 

 color but otherwise not different from specimens from Panama. 

 Steindachner gives the fin counts for two specimens from the same 

 locality, D. 84 ; A. 63. This is a greater number than is recorded for 

 northern individuals. Our specimens have more dorsal and anal 

 rays, a little slenderer body, and a slightly shorter head and maxil- 

 lary, otherwise they agree very well with the type. 



Genus ETROPUS Jordan and Gilbert. 



170. ETROPUS ECTENES Jordan. 



Etropus ectenes Joedan in Jordan and Goss, Rev. Flounders, Rep. U. S. 

 Fish Comm., 1886 (1889), p. 277; Callao, Peru.— Abbott, Marine Fishes 

 Peru, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila,, 1899, p. 364. 



Family BLENNIIDAE. 



THE BLENKIES. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



c\ Body scaly ; teeth in jaws in more than one row ; a band of villiform teeth 



behind outer enlarged row; teeth on the vomer and palate 



Lepisoma, p. 143. 

 a". Body scaleless. 



b\ Teeth comb-shaped, in a single row in each jaw. 

 c\ Teeth all fixed, attached to the bones of the jaw and not movable. 

 d\ Gill membranes free from the isthmus or at least forming a distinct 



fold across it Blennius,]). 146. 



dl Gill membranes broadly united to the isthmus, the gill openings 



restricted to the sides Hypleurochilus, p. 140. 



cl Teeth of front of jaws all movable, implanted on the skin of the lips. 



e\ Posterior canines present in one or both jaws Alticus, p. 146. 



e^ Jaws without posterior canines Salarias, p. 147. 



6*. Teeth unequal, not comblike ; a single series of strong, blunt conical teeth 

 on jaws, vomer and palatines Emblemaria, p. 147. 



