FISHES OF SINALOA. 465 



anteriorly; scales 13-76-20; all the fins, with the excep- 

 tion of spinous dorsal, entirely scaled. 



Tip of pectoral sharply rounded; front of anal not 

 greatly elevated, its longest ray 3 in base of fin, which is 

 about equal to head; spinous dorsal higher than soft 

 dorsal; upper lobe of caudal the longer. 



Color, steel blue, brighter than in elegans, with bronze 

 streaks along the edges or rows of scales, much brighter 

 than in elegans. A broader gray streak bordered with 

 bronze at base of soft dorsal. A large brassy spot in the 

 axil, extending along shoulder girdle ; a deep bronze 

 stripe through eye, another back from angle of mouth; 

 the two separated by steel blue; fins all blue black, with 

 some bronze, especially on pectoral. Body more elongate 

 than in elegans; the form more elliptical; the mouth less 

 blunt, with fewer teeth; the scales smaller and more 

 crowded anteriorly; the fins lower, especially the anal. 

 Well separated from Kyfhosus elegans, living chiefly in 

 the rocks outside; rare in the bay. Largest specimen 

 eighteen inches long. 



151. Kyphosus elegans (Peters). Chopa. 



This species is rather common about Mazatlan, espe- 

 cially in the sluggish waters of the Astillero. Like the 

 preceding, it reaches a length of about fifteen inches. 



Head 3^; depth 2; dorsal XI, 12; anal III, 11 ; eye 

 4 in head; snout 3^ ; maxillary 3^; pectoral i|, equals 

 ventral; longest ray of soft dorsal lyi; longest dorsal 

 spine 25^ ; longest anal ray 2; upper lobe of caudal equals 

 head. 



Body ovate, compressed; profile rounded, slightly pro- 

 duced before eyes; concave over snout in some speci- 

 mens, straight in others; a gentle curve from eyes to dor- 

 sal. Mouth small, horizontal, the jaws equal; teeth in a 



