FISHES OF SINALOA. 425 



dimentary; second 2/4 ^^ longest soft ray. First soft ray 

 slender, but articulate, half length of longest ray.* 



Olivaceous, sides creamy, white. Many scales on sides 

 punctate so that black scales seem scattered among the 

 others. A conspicuous black bar at base of pectoral, 

 followed by a white streak; a narrow black rim around 

 lower half of eye. Fins all creamy yellow, the upper 

 ones blotched and dotted with blackish. Young with a 

 black blotch surrounded by orange on first dorsal. Spot 

 on pectoral distinct at all ages. 



Family SPHYR^NID^. 



72. Sphyraena ensis Jordan & Gilbert. Vicuda. 

 Rather common in the harbor, where it was found by 



Dr. Gilbert; also recorded from Panama by Gilbert, and 

 from San Bartholome Bay and Panama by Steindachner. 

 An excellent food fish, but reaching a smaller size than 

 most species of the group. 



Family POLYNEMID^. 



73. Polydactylus approximans (Lay & Bennett). Raton. 

 Very common, especially on sandy beaches; many 



specimens taken by us; also recorded by Gilbert from 

 Mazatlan and from other localities. Used as food. 



74. Polydactylus opercularis (Gill.) 



Obtained by Dr. Gilbert from Mazatlan and Panama; 

 not seen by us. 



Family HOLOCENTRID^. 



75. Holocentrus suborbitalis Gill. Mojarra Car- 



DENAL. 



Very abundant in all rocky pools about Mazatlan. It 

 reaches only a small size, barely exceeding six inches, 



* Apparently taken for a spine by Dr. Glinther, who counts A, III, 9. 

 2d See., Vol. V. ( 28 ) August 15, 1895. 



