214 PERcro^. 



behind and below the root of the pectoral ; it is very strong and long, 

 two-thirds of the length of the head, flattened, sharp ontside, and 

 striated ; the first ray is the longest, scarcely longer than the spine 



The dorsal fin commences above the humeral ; it has ten strong 

 spines, longitudinally striated ; the third and foiuih are longest, 

 their length being 3^- in the height of the body. The membrane 

 between the spines extends to the upper third. The length of the 

 base of the soft portion is more than one-half of that of the spiaous. 

 The rays are broken off. 



The origin of the anal fin falls below the end of the dorsal. The 

 first spine is scarcely shorter than the second, which is shortest ; the 

 two others are shorter, but nearly equal in length. 



Caudal rounded ? 



The scales are osseous, very adherent, not striated, each with 

 thi'ee or foiu- prominences behind ; those of the breast are largest ; 

 the fins are entirely scaleless. The lateral line commences behind 

 the scapulaiy spine, and is very curved on the trunk, hke the back. 



The ground-colour now is yellowish, largely marbled "nith brownish. 

 The spinous portion of the dorsal and the ventrals are brown ; the 

 other fins yello-ndsh. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 1 8 



Height of the body 10 



Length of the head 7 



of third dorsal spine 2f 



of second anal spine If 



of ventral spine 5 



Interspace between the ventrals 6 



40. OREOSOMA. 



Oreosoma, Cut: 4" Val. iv. p. 515. 



Seven branchiostegals. Body high. AU the teeth villiform ; teeth 

 on the jaws, vomer, and palatine bones. Two dorsals, the first with 

 five spines ; anal long, ^vithout spines. Opercles not serrated nor 

 armed ; operculiim with two ridges, terminating in flat angles. No 

 true scales, but with large, conical, bony protuberances, symmetri- 

 cally arranged. 



Atlantic. '■ •' • • 



1 . Oreosoma atlanticum. 



Cut: (^ Val. iv. p. 515. pi. 99. 



D. :|. A. 2(5. V. 1/5. 



With 25 or 26 large, conical, liony protuberances, four of which 

 are on the back. (Cuv.) 

 Atlantic. 



