i94i CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 



159 



bb. Palatines without teeth; 13 dorsal spines; suborbital keel with a 



single spine placed at its terminal end; 17 pectoral rays; dorsal fin 



rather deeply notched; about 38 scales in lateral series Scorpaenodcs floridae 



aa. Bones of head cavernous; surface of head with many mucus pores; 



dorsal fin deeply notched, nearly or quite separate; dorsal with 11 or 



12 spines and 10 soft rays Setarches par mat us 



Scorpaena plumieri Bloch 



(Plate 23, figures 1, 2) 



Occasional on mud, sand, gravel, or rock bottom, and among coral heads. Very 

 sluggish; often remaining motionless for long periods, except for respiratory 

 movements, which are irregular and sometimes cease for a comparatively long 

 time. Yet once aroused, it is a powerful swimmer. I have seen it dash up from 

 the bottom and, in the twinkling of an eye, swallow a blenny that ventured too 

 near. I have taken 2 such fishes, a portunid crab, and fragments of several other 

 small crustaceans from the stomach of one specimen. 



The body is hoary with dermal appendages like rags and tatters of weed. 

 Among algae, combinations of green and yellow occur. I have sometimes found 

 it almost necessary to brush the fish to convince myself that its color and covering 

 were its own. The obliterative effect of its coloration is so pronounced that one 

 may gaze almost directly at it without seeing it. On light sand its dorsal and 

 lateral dark markings are faint, and its shade resembles that of its surroundings. 

 In a slate-bottomed tank the body had four dark bands, the first through eyes, 

 across head; a broad one under first 6 dorsal spines; another very dark one 

 under anterior half of soft dorsal; and still another at base of caudal rays; two 

 very black bars on caudal fin; axil of pectoral conspicuously spotted with white 

 spots on black ground. The general body color extends to the margin of the 

 pupil, itself obscured by flecks of color visible in certain lights. The overlap of 

 conjunctival and iridial patterns is sufficient to reduce to a minimum the con- 

 spicuousness of the eye movements. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America to Florida, sometimes straying to Cape Cod. 



W. H. L. 



Scorpaena agassizii Goode and Bean 



Rather common at depths of 40 to 60 fathoms. About 40 specimens were 

 secured, measuring 65 to 170 mm. in length. This is one of few species from deep 

 waters that reach the surface alive and live on in the aquarium after the rough 

 treatment in the otter trawl. 



Repeated counts show D. XII^'/l; A. 111,5 V?. The species is distinguishable 

 from others known locally by its strong cephalic spines (:> only on suborbital 

 ridge); an accessory one at base of upper preopercular spine; the large eye, 3.0 in 

 head in a specimen 170 mm. long; and the greatly elongated pectoral fin, reach- 

 ing very nearly to vertical of end of anal base; pectoral with 19 or 20 rays, the 

 uppermost and lower 12 simple, the remainder divided, the rays increasing so 

 rapidly from below as to make the under border seem almost excavated; dorsal 



