DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBtlTION. 249 



HELICOLENUS DACTYLOPTERUS, (De i.a Rochk) Goode and Heax. (Figure 244.) 



Scorpmia dactijloptera, De la Roche, Aun. Mus. Paris, xii, Slfi, 337, PI. xxn, li^. 9. — Rissd, Llithyol- 



ogie de Nice, 1810, 186 (Nice) ; Hist. Nat. Eur. Meridionale, 1826, in, 369. 

 SehastesdarUihipteriis, GuxTHEB, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus, ii, 1860, 99. 



Sehastupliis dactiiloplerus, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comji. Zool., x, 214.— Jordan, Cat. Fi.sli. N. Amer. 108. 

 Scorpwiia (I'ontinus) daciyJopierus, Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, t'. S. Nat. Mus. 679. 



A Hclicolen ns witli body and head somewbat conipres.-^cd, and back arniate ; its Leifht at 

 the ventrals 2% in its total lengtli (without caudal) ; tlie length of the head about 2i. The 

 secoud dorsal spine about equal in lengtli to the fourth, and both shorter than the third. 

 Scales moderate, finely pectinate upon the margins, presenting a rough surface. No der- 

 mal flaps. Preopercular spines live in number, somewhat coiispicuou.s, and uniform in 

 size, except the second, which is a little longer and sharper than the others. Upper margin 

 of the eye touching upper profile of head, its diameter 3 to 3i in length of head. Max- 

 illary long, somewhat curved, its posterior extremity reaching about to the vertical from 

 the posterior margin of the pupil. Lower jaw equal in length to the upper, or sometimes 

 passing slightly beyond it. Upper jaw notched, the lower with a median tubercle corres- 

 ponding to the notch. 



The lateral line is distant from the dorsal outline a space equal to three-quarters the 

 diameter of the orbit, and follows a nearly straight line to the point below the end of the 

 soft dorsal, thence with a gentle curve to a point slightly al)ove tlie middle of the base of 

 the caudal. The number of longitudinal rows of scales is hard to determine. There appear 

 to be about 50 and 28-30 of them are tube-bearing. 



The dorsal fin is inserted above the inner, upper angle of the opercular flap, and the 

 length of its .spinous portion is considerably less than the length of the head. Its second, 

 third and fourth spines are the longest, the third slightly e.Kceediug the other two; while 

 the following ones gradually decrease to the eleventh, which is considerably shorter than 

 the tenth, which is equal to the fifth. The soft dorsal is composed of 12 rays, the last 

 bifid; and its height at its middle is considerably greater than that of the third dor.sal 

 spine, and nearly equal to that of the postocular portion of the head; its rays project far 

 beyond the membranes. The anal is inserted under the origin of the soft dorsal, and is 

 neai-ly equal to it in lieight. The tip of the ventral extends beyond the vent, the lower 

 pectoral rays sometimes .going to the same vertical. The base of the pectoral is equal in 

 width to the j)ostocuhvr portion of the head, and almost equal to its longest or median 

 rays, which reach to the vertical from the vent; the fin is broad and fan-shaj^ed; its first 

 two rays are simide, the niae following branched, the last eight simple and slender, nearly 

 half of their extremities free from connecting membranes. 



Color, red above, white below, with the color of the back extending in transverse 

 bands upon the sides. Dark blotches or bands on the opercles and dorsal tin. 



Eacbal formula: D. xii, 12-13; A. ill, (i; V. i, 6. 



De la Roche states that at I vi^a this form is found only at considerable depths, outside of 

 the regions commonly frequented l)y the fishermen; indeed, that it is veiy rare, or scarcely 

 at all known, in the markets of the towns wliere the fishermen are not in the habit of going 

 far out to sea. He saw many individuals taken off Ivi(;a at a depth of 260 to 290 meters, 

 and in the vicinity of Barcelona saw the same species from a depth of 540 meters. At Iviya 

 the species is known as the i<er<m imprridi, and at Barcelona as the Fancgal. 



Risso says that the specimens seen by him at Nice corresponded perfectly with tlie 

 description and figure of De la Roche, and tliat it is very common in that part of the Medi- 

 terranean, where it is known as the Curdonnicra; that it grows to a length of 30 centimeters 

 and a weight of 2 kilograms; that it is obtained on rocky Iwttoms a* considerable depths 

 throughout the entire year, and that he has observed females full ol'eggs in summer. Canes- 

 trini identifies it from Napl(%s under the name Scorfano difunal, and says it is known only 

 at great depths. Uis diagnosis corresponds (airly well with that of De la Roche, but we do 

 not know whether it is original or quoted. Giglioli ideutihes the same from Genoa, Messina, 

 and Catania. 



