DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AXI) THEIR DISTKIIifTIoX. 251 



the base of the eleventh dorsal spine. The third anal spin(. is somewhat stouter and longer 

 than the second; the tip of the anal, when extended, does not toueii the vertical fioni the 

 end of the base of the soft dorsal. 



The pectoral is broad and ftrn shaped, the width of its bas(^ about e(iual to the diameter 

 of the orbit, the uppermost of its branched rays the lousiest, its middle rays about e(pial in 

 lenjjth to the longest of the ventral, which, wheu extended, pass far beyond tlie vent and 

 almost, if not quite, to the origin of the anal. The rays of the ])ectoral an; arranged ju-e- 

 cisely as in H. ddctylopterus. Caudal sinii)le and truncate. 



Lateral line straighter than in H. d(ic1iil(>i>terux, but slightly curved in its course from the 

 head to the middle of the caudal peduncle, and twice as far from the anterior portion of the 

 soft dorsal as from that of the spinous portion of the tin. It consists of 29 or ;'>() scah-s 

 each with a little si)ine-like point, directed toward the tail. The scales (as sliown by the 

 figure) are larger than in the Mediterranean form. (Jolor pale scarlet, with darker or 

 brighter broad, irregular, scarlet bands, often subdued with dusky, running down the side 

 from the dorsal origin and disappearing after reaching the ventral origin. Fins scarlet, 

 immaculate, the spiny i)art of the dorsal tin being mottled, and having its spines ami ttla- 

 ments tipped with white, and its soft portion, like the front of the ventral and anal tins 

 edged with white. Head l)right scarlet, tlie operculum with a patch of bluish black. The 

 back part of the mouth lead color, the front of mouth and tongue whitish. Iris golden, 

 shaded with brown; pupil violet, opalescent.' 



This sijecies is taken by the Madeiran fishermen on rocky bottoms and at great depths, 

 with lines 225 to 350 fathoms in length. It is taken chietly in spring and autumn, neither 

 of which times, according to Lowe, is its breeding season, so that he is inclined to believe 

 that like P. dacfyloptenis, as observed by Risso, the spawning time is in summer. The 

 Madeirans call it the Boca ne(jra, or black mouth, in allusion to its coTispicuous black throat, 

 and it is also called Pai di gafo, or " tomcat," a name which refers to the fact that the eyes 

 glisten strongly in the dark. 



The name iSebastcs Iniperialis has no significance. Ciivier and Valenciennes had no 

 specimens except the types of J)e la IJoche, and retiamed it from some whimsical desire to 

 utilize the vulgar name '■'■Scrofanu imperali,^^ which the Sicilians use for some fish which the 

 French ichthyologists supposed to be identified with that described from lvi§a. 



Specimens of this species were taken by the Finh Hawk as follows: Cat. No. 20723, U. 

 S. N. M., from station 8'.»7, in 37° 25' N. hit., 7-1'' IS' \\\ Ion., at a depth of 157i tathoms; 

 Cat. No. 28954:, U. S. N. M., from station 1033, iu 30° 56' N. lat., 09° 24' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 183 fathoms; Cat. No. 2SS27, V. S. N. ]\I., from station 944, in 40o 01' N. lat. 71° 14' 30" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 128 tathoms; Cat. No. 28847, T. S. N. M., from station 950, in 40^ 07' 

 N. lat., 70° 32' VV. Ion., at a depth of 71 fathoms; Cat. No. 31058, U. S. N. :M.,_^from station 

 1109, in 40O 03' N. lat., 70° 38' W. Ion., at a dei)th of 89 fathoms; Cat. No. 29000, 1'. S. N. 

 M., from station 1027, in 40° N. lat., 09<^ 19' W. Ion., at a depth of 93 fathoms; Cat. No. 

 28754, IT. S. N. M., from station 939, in 39° 53' N. lat.. 69° .50' 30" W. hm., at a depth of 204 

 fathoms; Cat. No. 28957, U. S. N. M., from station 1032, in 39° 50' N. lat., 09o 22' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 208 fathoms; Cat. No. 20027, U. S. N. M., from station 897, iu 31° 25' N. lat., 

 74° 18' W. Ion., at a depth of 157i tathoms; Cat. No. 28998, l^ S. N. M., from station 1043, 

 in 38° .39' N. lat., 73© 11' W. Ion., at a depth of 130 ftithoms; Cat. No. 31871, V. S. N. 

 M., fi'om station 1152, iu 39o 58' N. lat., 70° 35' W. Ion., at a depth of 115 fathoms; (,'at. 

 No. 31874, (T. S. N. M.. from station 1151, iu .39° 58' .'SO" N. lat., 70° 37' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 125 tathoms; Cat. No. 29050, U. S. N. M., from station 1045, in 38° 35' N. lat., 73^ 13 W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 312 fathoms; and Cat. No. 28980, U. S. N. M., from station 1038, in 39o 

 58' N. lat., 70° 00' W. Ion., at a depth of l.'iO fathoms. 



The AlbafntsN also secured specimens from the following localities: Station 2402, in 28= 

 30' N. lat., 85° 33' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 111 fathoms; from station 2545, in 40° 01' N. 



' Lowe states that iu several large examples taken in August the color was the most luilliant .scarlet 

 imaginable, with the bands deei«'r, but pure, intense scarlet. The eye was singularly beautiful. The anal 

 fin was broadlv edged iu front with white. 



