134 [June, 



Hemilepidotus. 

 '' Head rough and prickly, with membranous flaps on various parts; opercu- 

 lar apparatus spinous. Mouth moderately cleft; jaws equal. Teeth upon the 

 premaxillaries, dentaries, front of vomer and palatines. Gill openings sepa- 

 rated beneath by an isthmus ; branchiostegals, six on either side. Dorsal fins 

 contiguous. Caudal rounded posteriorly. Insertion of ventrals opposite the 

 base of pectorals. Longitudinal bands of scales alternating with nacked areas ; 

 scales themselves finely denticulated." 



Hemilepidotus spinosus 

 ' has membranous flaps on the upper surface and sides of the head. The eyes 

 are quite large. The posterior free extremity of the maxillary extends to a 

 vertical line drawn at the posterior rim of the pupil. Dorsal band of scales 

 composed of six rows or series ; lateral band of seven, five below and two above 

 the lateral line. Ground color dark reddish brown, with darker transverse bands 

 and blotches." 



Specimens labelled by Dr. Ayres were collected in the Bay of San Francisco, 

 Oal., by Dr. John S. Newberrv ; others in Humboldt Bav, by Lt. W. P. Trow- 

 bridge, U. S. A. " 



So much for Calycilepidotus spinosus : it is a true Hemilepidotus. 



As to C. lateralis, the second species of Dr. Ayres' genus, a careful study has 

 convinced me that it is not specifically identical with my Scorpcenichthys lateralis. 

 Subsequent investigations of more perfect si^ecimens have convinced me of the 

 propriety of removing the latter from the genus Scorpsenichthys, and since I had 

 uo specimens of Hemilepidotus nebulosus, Ayres, {Calycilepidotus lateralis, Ayres, 

 non mihi) by which to determine its generic affinities, I have been compelled to 

 institute, under the name of 



Artedius, 

 a new genus to receive two species, the one above referred to, and formerly de- 

 scribed by me as Scorpcenichlhys lateralis, and another which so far had remained 

 unnoticed. The following are its characters : " Head rough, with supra-orbital 

 membranous flaps. Spines upon the preopercle only. Mouth moderately cleft ; 

 lower jaw slightly overlapped by the upper. Teeth upon the premaxillaries, 

 dentaries, front of vomer, and palatines. Gill openings continuous under the 

 throat ; branchiostegals five on either side. Dorsal fins separated. Caudal sub- 

 truncated posteriorly. Insertion of ventrals opposite the base of the pectorals. 

 A dorsal band of pectinated scales." 



Artedius lateralis. 



Scorpcenichthys lateralis, Grd., has the " surface of the head smooth. Preopercle 

 armed with a flat bicuspid spine. Band of dorsal scales narrow, originating at 

 the thoracic arch and extending to near the terminus of the base of the second 

 dorsal. Anterior margin of first dorsal situated in advance of the thoracic arch. 

 Deep chesnut brown above, maculated with yellowish ; beneath yellowish." 



Specimens collected at San Luis Obispo, Cal.. by Lt. W. P. Trowbridge, U. 

 S. A. 



Artedius notospilotus 

 is characterised by the " surface of the head being subtuberculous and scaly. 

 Preopercle armed with a flat tricuspid spine. Anterior margin of first dorsal 

 situated in advance of the beginning of the dorsal band of scales, which is broad 

 and extends from the thoracic arch to near the terminus of the base of the second 

 dorsal. Olivaceous, with a series of saddle-like black patches. Abdomen dull 

 yellow or white." 



Collected by E. Samuels in Tomales Bay, Cal. 



Sebastes ruber, Ayres, is my Sebastes rosaceus. 



Sebasies nebulosus, Ayres, is my Sebastes pasciatus. 



Sebastes variabilis, Ayres (not Cuvier) is my Sebastes auriculatus. 



