NO. iws. FISHES FliOM ECrADOR AM) PElir^STAUKS. 797 



and below the lateral line. There are three more scales counting the 

 subvertical series between the median line of belly and lateral line in 

 M. alf/'j)in/rl.s than in M. ectens though the difference appears greater 

 than the actual count indicates. 



The occurrence of M. ectens at Panama may here be recorded. There 

 is a specimen of this species in the Stanford University collections 

 ttiken at Panama b}' the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries steamer Alhatros.s^ 

 which has hitherto been identitied with 3L altljjenniii. It agrees in all 

 respects with specimens of the former species from Mazatlan, Mexico. 



76. CHILODACTYLUS VARIEGATUS Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Several specimens were collected at Callao. They all have the dorsal 

 spines 17 in number, Uot 16 as recorded in the original description. 

 The soft dorsal has from :^9 to 31 ra3"s, and the anal U or 10. The 

 swollen lower ra3^s of the pectoral number 6 (7 in original descrip- 

 tion), and extend from i to 1 diameter of the pupil bej^ond the 

 branched rays. The gill rakers are rather slender, and number 12 

 or 13 on lower limb of arch. 



Family GICHLID^E. 



77. ^QUIDENS RIVULATUS (Giinther). 



Several specimens taken at the market in Guayaquil and one at 

 Eten, Peru. The longest 16 cm. in length. 



Head, 2i to 2f in length to base of caudal; depth, 2i. Eye, 3i to 4 

 in head in specimens from 7 to 9 cm. in length; 4 to 4i in specimens 

 from 11 to 16 cm. in length; maxillary, 3 to 3i; snout, 2i to 2f. 

 Dorsal, XIV (occasionally XIII), 10 or 11; anal. III, 8 or 9. Scales, 

 26 or 27; 3 between front of dorsal and lateral line, 7 between front of 

 anal and upper part of lateral line. Gill rakers, 3+<S or 9. 



Small specimens up to 10 cm. in length have the anterior profile of 

 head straight or slightly convex; large specimens, from 11 to 16 cm. 

 in length usually have it slightly concave. Interorbital space increas- 

 ing in width and growing more nearly flat with age; in large speci- 

 mens its width is contained 2f times in head; in small specimens 3 

 times. Length of dorsal and anal rays increasing with age; the longest 

 ones 1 to li in head in large specimens, and reaching past middle of 

 caudal rays; 1^ in small specimens and not reaching to middle of cau- 

 dal rays. Small specimens have the dark lateral spot nuich more con- 

 spicuous, and the dark lines radiating from eye to snout and across 

 cheek much less conspicuous. They ha\ e narrow cross bars which 

 are scarcely to be seen on specimens 13 cm. in length, and not at all 

 on larger ones. These are placed as follows: One at base of caudal 

 rays; one across caudal peduncle just behind soft dorsal; one under 

 middle of soft dorsal; one just behind lateral spot; one just in front 



