Pareioplitae, or Mailed-cheek Fishes 429 



Within the limits of Sebastodes and Sebastichthys is a very large 

 range of form and color, far more than should exist within the 

 range of a natural genus. On the other hand, all attempts at 

 generic subdivision have failed because the species form a number 

 of almost perfectly continuous series. At one extreme are species 

 with large mouths, small scales, relatively smooth cranium, 

 and long gill-rakers. At the other extreme are robust species, 

 with the head very rough, the mouth moderate, the scales 

 larger, and the gill-rakers short and thick. Still other species 

 have slender cranial spines and spots of bright pink in certain 

 specialized localities. These approach the genus Helicolenus 

 as other species approach Scorpana. 



The various species are known in California as rockfish, or 

 rock-cod, in Japan as Soi and Mebaru. In both regions they 

 form a large part of the bulk of food-fishes, the flesh being 

 rather coarse and of moderate flavor. All the species so far 

 as known are ovoviviparous, the young being brought forth 

 in summer in very great number, born at the length of about 

 \ of an inch. The species living close to shore are brown, black, 

 or green. Those living in deeper waters are bright red, and 

 in still deeper waters often creamy or gray, with the lining of 

 the mouth and the peritoneum black. The largest species 

 reach a length of two or three feet, the smallest eight or ten 

 inches. None are found between Lower California and Peru 

 and none south of Nagasaki in Japan. Of the California species 

 the following are of most note: Sebastodes paucispinis, the 

 Bocaccio of the fishermen, from its large mouth, is an elongate 

 fish, dull red in color, and reaching a very large size. In deeper 

 waters are Sebastodes jordani and Sebastodes goodei, the former 

 elongate and red, the latter more robust and of a very bright 

 crimson color. Sebastodes ovalis, the viuva, and Sebastodes 

 entomelas are grayish in hue, and the related Sebastodes 

 proriger is red. The green rockfish Sebastodes ftavidus is 

 common along the shore, as also the black rockfish, known 

 as peche pretre or priestfish, Sebastodes mystinus. Less com- 

 mon is Sebastodes melanops. Similar to this but more orange 

 in color is the large Sebastodes miniatus. Somewhat rougher- 

 headed is the small grass rockfish, Sebastodes atrovirens. On 

 the large red rockfish, Sebastichthys ruberrimus, the spinous 



