SEBASTES IMTERIALTS. 173 



large, but, like those of the Requeime^ do not project above the profile. The 

 space between them is very deep and strongly ribbed, but narrow ; scarcely in 

 width equalling half their diameter. 



The head is altogether less conspicuously anned and more distinctly scaled 

 than in the Requeime, with the eyes much larger. The muzzle is much shorter, 

 scarcely equalling in length the diameter of the eye ; but still pointed and com- 

 pressed, and with the hump before the nostrils altogether obsolete. The longitu- 

 dinal suborbitary ridge beneath the eyes is less prominent, and scarcely at all, 

 or very feebly and inconspicuously, aculeate ; with generally only one slight spine : 

 and the two spines of the fore suborbitary over the maxillary, which are so con- 

 spicuous in the Requeime, are reduced to two obsolete small teeth or angles, the 

 anterior or uppermost of which is the largest. The marginal spines of the pre- 

 opercle on the other hand are very large, distinct, equidistant, and nearly equal ; 

 with the uppermost but one, however, largest: all having the same horizontal 

 or parallel direction; being nearly straight, or but slightly hooking upwards. 

 The scapulary and the two superscapulary spines are small and crowded ; form- 

 ing the usual triangle. There is no humeral spine or bone externally discernible ; 

 but merely a triangular loose scaly skin in the upper axil of the pectoral fins. 

 The disposition of the other spines is similar to that of the Requeime : but they 

 are generally much smaller and more inconspicuous ; and those immediately 

 behind the eyes (of the posterior frontal bones), together with the strong one in 

 the Carneiro and Requeime between these and the two superscapulary spines, 

 are quite obsolete or wanting. The spines above the nostrils and orbits, and the 

 pair at the nape, are precisely similar to those of the Requeime ; but instead of 

 being more conspicuous in large examples, as in that fish, they become more 

 obsolete in full-grown individuals. 



As in the Requehnc, I have observed sometimes about the muzzle other pores 

 or orifices, besides the two usual nostrils on each side : and the lower jaw has 

 the same sort of tubercle at its tip beneath. 



The pectoral fins are even broader and larger than in the Requeime, covering, 

 when expanded, the whole depth of the side, and they are more abruptly truncate. 

 The two first rays are barred, but simple : the last eight only are fleshy, simple, 

 thickly barred or annulate, and with the connecting web reaching only halfway 

 up ; their ends being free :* the nine intermediate rays are branched, with merely 

 their tips free. 



The ventral fins resemble those of the Requeime. They are a little shorter 

 than the pectoral fins. 



The anterior portion of the dorsal fin resembles rather that of the Carneiro : 

 the three or four first spines being even less unequal than in that fish. The 

 hinder soft-rayed portion having three more rays, is longer and more oblong: 

 and its last forked or double ray is merely connectea by a shoil web in its axil 

 to the back, instead of in its whole length. 



The anal fin in size and position is like that of the Requeime, but is more 

 abrupt or truncate. The vent is situate considerably before it ; and its last ray 

 is forked, and altogether free from web behind. 



The caudal fin is simple, and completely truncate. 



The head is perhaps somewhat more conspicuously scaled than in the Re- 

 queime ; the scales advance rather forwarder under the eyes, and there is an 

 evident band or triangular patch of them on the ends of the maxillaries. How- 

 ever, the muzzle and the lower jaw are naked, like the borders of the maxillaries. 

 The scales of the body advance quite up to the point of the throat, and end in two 



* Like fingers : whence Laioclie's name, " dadyloptara,''' finger-finned. 



