92 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxvii. 



inhabiting all seas, but especially abundant in the temperate parts of 

 the Pacific Ocesui, where they form a large proportion of the fish 

 fauna. They are nonmigratory tishes, living a])out rocks. Most of 

 them are of hirge size, and all are used as food. Many of them are 

 viviparous, the young being produced in great numl)ers when about 

 one-fourth inch in length. Many of them have a venom sac at the 

 base of the dorsal spines. In Japan the olivaceous species are known 

 as Meharu (pop eye), the others as So! ov Al'a-uiro (red fish). Niuner- 

 ous species with venomous spines are known as Olx^oze. 



a. Dorsal fin beginning well backward at the nape, far behind the eye. 

 h. Body scaly, sometimes with fleshy flaps; no free rays on the pectoral; ventral 

 rays always I, 5. 

 c. Pectoral fin with its lowermost ray not detached as a separate feeler. 



d. Dorsal spines not greatly produced with slender free tips; pectoral fins 

 moderate. 

 e. Sebastin.e. Dorsal spines more than 12; vertebrae more than 10 + 14. 

 /. Dorsal spines 15 or 16; vertebrae about 11 + 18 = 29; palatine teeth 

 present; scales ctenoid; top of head scaly. 

 g. Pectoral with the lower rays produced in a distinct lobe; anal rays 



III, 5 Sebastolobus, 1 . 



ff. Dorsal spines 13 (rarely 14); vertebrae usually 12 + 15 = 27; palatine 

 teeth present. 



/(. Head and lateral line without series of filaments. 

 i. Preorbital stay without series of hooked spines. 

 j. Base of skull strongly curved; interorbital space broad, flat, or 

 convex; cranial spines relatively low; gill-rakers relatively 



long Sehastodes, 2. 



jj. Base of skull nearly straight; interorbital space narrow, mostly 

 concave; cranial spines relatively sharp and high; gill-rakers 



short and thick Seba.'^tichthys, 3. 



ii. Suborbital stay and preopercle with a row of strong hooked 



spines; dorsal spines very strong and long. .Neosebastes, 4. 



/(/(. Head and lateral line with many dermal filaments; preorbital 



stay without enlarged spines ThysanicJithys, 5. 



ee. ScoRP.ENiN.E. Dorsal spines normally 12; vertebrae 10 + 14 = 24. 



/. Bones of head scarcely cavernous; occiput witli two pairs 



of spines; scales ctenoid, or else provided with dermal 



flaps; some of the jjectoral rays branched. 



m. Scales on top of head ctenoid; cranium essentially as in 



Sebastodes; the armature moderate, and no deep 



pits; palatine teeth present. 



n. Air bladder well developed Sebastiscus, 6. 



nn. Air bladder obsolete Helicolenu.^, 7. 



mm. Scales on top of head cycloid or wanting; no air blad- 

 der; cranium irregular above, with many spines. 



0. Palatine teeth present Scor}}a;na, 8. 



00. Palatine teeth none Scorpfenopsis, 9. 



II. Bones of head with large muciferous cavities; scales cy- 

 cloid; pectoral rays usually 20 or more, some of them 

 branched; head scaleless above; no groove at occiput; 

 palatine teeth present; scales deciduous. 



p. Dorsal spines 12; interorbital space wide and con- 

 vex; gill-rakers short and slender. .St'tarchea, 10. 



