74 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEDM. 



Gill-rakers, as in nebulosus, short, compressed, somewhat clavate, the 

 middle ones longer and somewhat crooked. 



Spinous dorsal always higher than in nchulosus, the highest spines 

 rather higher than the soft rays, the membranes more deeply incised 

 than in nebidosns, but less than in maliger. Caudal fin truncate. Anal 

 fin moderately high, the second spine stronger and slightly longer than 

 the third, about two-thirds the height of the soft rays. Pectoral fins 

 rather short, about reaching to the vent, their bases very broad, as in 

 related species, and the lower rays thickened and fleshy. Ventrals 

 reaching vent. 



Scales in 53 transverse rows ; the accessory scales rather numerous. 



Dorsal, XIII, 12; anal III, 7; pyloric coeca 8; vertebraj 12 + 15. 



Pattern of cc-loration almost exactly identical with that of S. nebu- 

 losics, but the shade of color very different. 



In 8. carnatus the light ground color is clear flesh color or pinkish, 

 often tinged with grayish purple ; the light shades on the head purplish. 

 The dark shades are yellowish-brown, usually tinged with greenish. 



In 8. nehulosus the light ground color is more restricted, and its hue 

 is usually a clear warm brownish-yellow with orange mottlings, vary- 

 ing to dusky orange-brown, below often tinged with olive. The dark 

 shades are olive-black, varying to olive-brown. The light sliades of 8. 

 nebulosus are often nearly identical with the darTc shades of ^S*. carnatus. 



In both species the pattern is a light ground color, with dark blotches, 

 the dark color predominating above. Membrane between third and 

 fourth spines always pale, this color forming a blotch at the base of 

 these spines, and then extending obliquely downwards and backwards, 

 joining the ventral color. In front of this light area on the sides is a nar- 

 row oblique dark one, in front of which in turn is a light one, which be- 

 gins at the angle of the opercle and divides, passing around the pectorals 

 and uniting below them. 



A light blotch under the eighth dorsal spine extending up on the fin ; 

 also another at the junction of the two dorsals, and still another under 

 the last ray. Under each of these blotches irregular undulating light 

 areas extend down the sides, either continuous or as detached blotches. 

 The pale dorsal blotches correspond in position to the i)ink dorsal spots 

 of rosaceus, constellatus, oculatus, and chlorostictus, and to pale areas found 

 in fasciolar is, vexillaris, maliger, and other species. 



Head above with cross-shades and bands radiating from the eye. Fins 

 with the general pattern of color of neighboring parts of the body. 



This species is very closely related to 8. nebulosus, and from it cannot 

 always be readily distinguished except by the color. Like 8. nebulosus, 

 it is one of the smaller species, seldom reaching a length of much over 

 a foot. It is very abundant in the Bay of Monterey, forming a large 

 proportion of the "rock-fish" shij)j)ed from Monterey to tbe San Fran- 

 cisco market. ^S'. nebulosus occurs in the same waters, and the exam- 

 ination of great numbers of examples of both sexes and all ages has 



