Zoolog;/.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



between the vertical bands. All the fins are of a vermilion ting-ed with orano;e on 

 the raj'S ; the membrane of the dorsal, caudal, and pectoral being- pale-purplish; 

 the dorsal being- strongly speckled with blaciv at its base, especiall}^ over the 

 transverse dark bands of the bodj- ; the membranes of the ventral and anal fins are 

 orang-e ; in front of the pectoral and along- the lower part of the sides is a yellow- 

 ochre tint separating- the red of the upper part from the pearly white of the throat 

 and belly. 



Reference. — Scorpana percoides, Solander MSS. = Sehastes percoides, Richard- 

 son, Voy. Er. and Ter., t. 15, f. 1 and 2. 



The following are the dimensions of the specimen figured : — 



Mcisurements. 



Length from snout to distal end of caudal 



„ of caud.al ... 



„ from snout to anterior edge of orbit ... 



„ of orbit 



„ of head from snout to end of operculum 



„ from snout to anus, measured along ventral edge 



„ from snout to base of pectoral 



„ from snout to origin of dorsal 



„ of pectoral 



„ of dorsal ... 



„ of anal 



„ of ventral, longest ray 

 Width between eyes 

 Depth of body under 3rd dorsal 

 Thickness of body under 3rd dorsal 

 Height of 3rd and 4th dorsal rays 



„ of 1st dorsal spine ... 



„ of nth dors.al spine... 



„ of 1 2th dorsal spine 



„ of soft dorsal 

 Depth of anal 

 Length of 1st anal spine 



„ of 2ud anal spine ... 

 Number of scales (above lateral line about middle of body) in a space of 6 lines, 5. 



The fishes of this genus (Sebasfes) resemble Scorpcena, but are 

 distinguished by the scaly covering of all the plates of the head up 

 to the front edge of the orbit, and by the absence of the fleshy or 

 skinny filaments to the head and sides of the body found in that 

 genus. 



The present species is popularly called " Gurnet," or " Gurnet- 

 perch," by the fishermen and dealers, as well as the more common 

 Neosebastes scoi-pcenoides and N. pandus. 



It has not lieen figured with the colors of life before. 



Rather rare on the Victorian coast. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 33. — Fig. 1, side view, n.atural colors, reduced. Fig. la, form of section of body. 

 Fig. li, interior of mouth, showing (lie teeth, natural size. (Figs, la and 16 have been litho- 

 graphed with the dorsal side downwards by the litliographer.) 



Frederick McCoy. 



[ 18 ] 



