298 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



the top of the head are much higher and stronger, especially the occip- 

 ital ridge, which forms a wall-Mke elevation, much as in S. serriceps. 

 The sides of this ridge are vertical, or even directed upward. 



The color of this species is very constant and quite distinct from that 

 of nebulosus. It is nearly black, everywhere speckled with whitish. 

 There are coarse yellowish blotches on the sides of the head and body, 

 and a broad, yellowisli, lateral band. This band begins on the mem- 

 brane of the third and fourth dorsal spines, and extends downward to 

 the lateral line, which it follows to the tail.. The edges of this band are 

 very uneven, and it is of varying width, but it is always distinct and 

 continuous. The body is mottled with light and dark, and the fins are 

 all blackish, Avith pale spots. 



In the bluntish sj^ines of the sides of the head, the horizontal mouth, 

 with shortish subequal jaws, the short, thickish gill-rakers, the high 

 dorsal spines, and moderate, subequal anal spines, this species agrees 

 with S. nebidosus. Both species are common in the San Francisco mar- 

 ket, in about equal abundance. 



Measurements in himdredtlis of length to base of caudal. 



San Francisco, Cal., February 28, 1880. 



Note. — The iiublication of this paper has been accidentally delayed for some time. 

 Meanwhile the writers have discovered a number of additional species oi Sebastichthys 

 descriptions of which precede those of the iiresent species, although of course no al- 

 lusion is made to them in this earlier x^aper. 



