PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 287 



»ES€RBI»TI01V OF SEVEIV IVEW SPECIES OF SEBASTOIO FISHES, 

 FKOITI TBIE COAST OF CAf.SFORIVIA. 



By I>AVSI> S. JOISDAN ami CfilARLKS II. GILBERT. 



The Sebastoid fishes of the coast of Califoruia have been referred by 

 Professor Gill to four genera : Sehasfodes (type paucispinis), Sehasfosomns 

 (type melanops)^ Sebastomus (type rosaceus), and SehasUchthys {tyi^enigro- 

 cinctun)^ the first separated by the small size of the scales, the others 

 mainly differentiated by the degree of development in the spines of the 

 head. The genus Sebastodes we consider valid, referring to it only 

 paucispinis, although the afiBuities between paucispinis and the group 

 termed Schastosomus are not remote, as is shown by the smooth head,' 

 protruding lower jaw, small scales, and longer anal fin in the latter grouj). 

 The discovery by us of numerous additional species not known to 

 Professor Gill renders it evident to us that the groups Sehastosomus and 

 Scbastomus cannot be maintained as genera distinct from Sehastichthys^ 

 and that, in order to recognize them as subgenera even, a different dis- 

 tribution of the species must be adopted. 



The Californian species known to Professor Gill are distributed by 

 him as follows : 

 Genus Sebastodes. 



paucispinis. 

 Genus Sebastosomus. 



melanops. 



simulans. 



flavidus. 



ovalis. 



pinniger. 

 Genus Sebastomus. 



elongatus. 



rosaceus. 



ruber. 



auriculatus. 



nebulosus. 

 Genus Sebastichthys. 



nigrocinctus. 

 The following arrangement expresses our present views as to the 

 relations of the species known to us, so far as it can be shown in a linear 

 series. 

 Genus Sebastodes. 



j)aucispinis. 

 Genus Sebastichthys. 



Series (or subgenus) Sebastosomus. 

 melanops. 



