Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 1889 



706. SCORP^NICHTHYS, Girard. 



(Cabezones.) 



Seorpaniichthys, Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1854, 131 {marmoratvs). 



Body rather robust, covered with smooth, thick skiu. Head large, 

 somewhat compressed, its upper surface rugose ; mouth rather large, with 

 villiform teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; gill membranes broadly 

 united, free from the isthmus; a large slit behind fourth gill; preoper- 

 cular spines small, simple; spinous dorsal long, scarcely emarginate, but 

 slightly depressed near its middle, the first 4 spines shorter than those 

 immediately following ; ventral fins large, I, 5. Size large. Pacific Ocean. 

 A well-marked genus distinguished from its allies by its perfect ventrals. 

 (dHopTtioi;, dxopTtaiva, Scorpama; ix^vi, fish.) 



2270. S(ORP,EM(HTHYS MAKMORATUS (Ayrcs). 

 (Cabezon.) 

 Head 2^; depth 3*; eye U. D. XI, 18; A. 12; P. 15; V. I, 5; lateral 

 lines (pores) 80; P. IJ; C. IJ; vertelme 15 + 21 = 36. Top of head rugose, 

 without spines ; interorbital space concave, narrower than the large eye ; 

 a fleshy flap on middle of snout, and 1 on end of maxillary ; superciliary 

 cirri large ; more than I diameter of orbit, laciuiate ; upper preopercular 

 spine short, straight, about ^ diameter of eye; suborbital stay very broad ; 

 maxillary extending to beyond eye. First 4 spines of dorsal subequal, 

 shorter than the fifth; dorsal fins scarcely connected at base; pectorals 

 shortish, not reaching anal; skin thick and leathery, without prickles or 

 cirri. Larval sjiecimens 1 to 2 inches long are smooth, silvery, and com- 

 pressed, looking quite unlike the adult, the number of ventral rays readily 

 distinguishing them from other young sculpins. Olive brown, thickly 

 mottled with dark blotches and light spots, and reticulated with difl"erent 

 shades of green and brown ; sides with 5 irregular, dark, vertical blotches, 

 of which 2 are under each dorsal and extend on the fins ; belly livid bluish 

 or green, reticulated with olive; the ground color exceedingly variable, 

 ranging from cherry red to green ; lips blotched with white ; fins all more 

 or less barred; flesh and membranes livid bluish, the coloration of the 

 flesh varialde, like that of Ophiodon dongatm. Length 30 inches. Here 

 described from a specimen 10 inches in length, from San Francisco. Puget 

 Sound to San Diego; very abundant; used for food, bat coarse and tough. 

 The largest of the Cottidw, reaching a weight of 20 to 25 pounds. Com- 

 mon in the markets, but not esteemed as food, (marmoratus, marbled.) 



Hemitripterus marmoratus, Atres, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 1854, 4, San Francisco ; Gikahd, U. 

 S. Pac. R.E. Surv., Fishes, x, 64, 1858 ; Gunthee, Cat., n, 154, 1860 ; Jordan i: Gilbert, 

 Synopsis, 716, 1883. 



707. CHITONOTUS, Lockington. 



CJntonotm, Lockington, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 141 (megacephahis). 



Body elongate, its upper part, except along base of dorsal, covered with 

 small, very rough scales; preopercle with a long spine armed with 3 



