A CA NTHOPTt:R YGIL SCORPJENID^E. 



TAB. XXV. 



SEBASTES MADERENSIS, Nob. 



Rocaz, ou Papa-Jaca. 



Little Rock-fish, or Suck-Jack. 



Char. Gen. ; vide supra, tab. xvii. 



Char. Spec. 



S. obloiigus, laciniatus, pallide olivaceus, fiisco raarmoratus vel 3 — 4-fasciatus, nibroque 

 alboque irrorato-variegatus : capite latissimo, magno, aculeatissimo : rostro abbreviato, obtuso : 

 suborbitario antice spina unica valida : carina subocularia postice aculeata : spinis pragoperculi 

 insqualibus, superioribus majoribus : pinnarum pectoralium axilla spina hmnerali valida, hinc 

 infra apicem dente aucta ; radiis decern inferioribus simplicibus, ramosis paucis : dorsalis spina 

 quarta ceteris longiore analisque parte posteriore basi squamatis. 



D. 12 + 10 ; A. 3 + 5 ; P. 1 -f IV. V. V. -f 10 V. 9 = 15 ; V. 1 -f 5 ; C. ~^' 



o. "r V. 



B. M. 7 ; Sq. lin. lat. 28 — 30 ; Vert». 9 abd. + 15 caud. = 24. 



S. Maderensis, Syn. Fish. Mad. p. 1 75. 



Scorpana Madurcnsis, Cuv. and Val. 9. 463. 



Longit. = 4 — 6 poll. = 3^ X alt. 



Tempus, per totum annum. 



Locus, in rupibus littoralibus : vulg. 



This elegant and well-marked little species of Sebastes abounds close 

 off the rocky reefs and islets of the coast on all sides of the island ; and 

 is a frequent inmate of the numerous pools, or natural rock-basins, left 

 by the receding tide amidst the crevices and hollows of the rude tra- 

 chytic or basaltic masses, which, on these iron-bound shores, guard from 

 the further inroads of the waves the lofty cliffs of which they often are 

 the partial ruins. Here, in association with the rainbow-like Julis Tur- 

 cica and unimaculata^ the more subdued in tint, but not less beauti- 

 fully varied tortoiseshell-like livery of this little Rockfish, forms an 

 agreeable contrast with the splendid gem-like brilliancy of these La- 

 brid<£, and with the. sober-tinted plainness of the Blennies, which divide 

 with them the empire of these microcosms of the ocean's animal and vege- 

 table stores. Thus, in Madeira, this little Sebastes in locality and habits 



VOL. I. 



