432 Pareioplitas, or Mailed-cheek Fishes 



and is not closely related to any other. Fourteen dorsal 

 spines are occasionally present in Sebastichthys elegans. All 

 the other species show constantly 13. 



The genus Sebastiscus has the general appearance of Sebas- 

 todes, and like the latter possesses a large air-bladder. It how- 

 ever agrees with Scorpana in the possession of but 12 dorsal 

 spines and 24 vertebrae. The two known species are common 

 in Japan. Sebastiscus marmoratus, mottled brown, is everywhere 



FIG. 370. Banded Rockfish, Sebastichthys nigrocinctus (Ayres). Straits of Fuca. 



abundant along the coast, and the pretty Sebastiscus albofasciatus, 

 pink, violet, and golden, represents it in equal abundance in 

 deeper water. 



The genus Sebastopsis differs from Sebastodes only in having 

 no teeth on the palatines. The species, all of small size and 

 red or varied coloration, are confined to the Pacific. Sebastop- 

 sis xyris occurs in lower California and Sebastopsis guamensis 

 and 5. scaber in Polynesia. Species of this genus are often 

 found dried in Chinese insect boxes. 



Helicolenus differs from Sebastiscus only in the total absence 

 of air-bladder. The species are all bright crimson in color, very 

 handsome, and live in deep water. Helicolenus dactylopterus is 

 rather common in the Mediterranean, and is sometimes taken 

 in the Gulf Stream, and also in Japan, where two or three other 

 species occur. 



