PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 323 



Spinous ridges on the toi> of the head rather prominent, much us in 

 nebulosus, but k)wer, a little less depressed than in vexiUaris. The fol- 

 lowing- pairs are present : Xasal, preocular, supraocular, tympanic, and 

 occipital, live in all. The nasal spines ijre very strong. The preocular 

 and supraocular are broad and sharp. The tympanic spines are smaller 

 than in related S])ecies. The occipital ridges are short and compara- 

 tively weak, the point rather depressed. 



Preopercular spines very short, but all distinct, the upper one broad, 

 the second longest and most acute; Opercular spines large, the upj^er 

 very long and strong. Blnntish spines on subopercle and interopercle. 

 Two suprascapular spines. Interorbital space rather deeply and some- 

 what evenlj" concave, with a rather deep pit anteriorly. 



(j ill-rakers about 10-1-20, stout, moderately long, rather longer than in 

 nebulosus, somcwliat clavate, the longest abont equal to the diameter of 

 t he pupil. 



Scales moderate, rough, in about 55 transverse rows. Accessory scales 

 developed. 



Dorsal spines very high and strong, the fourth spine highest, usually 

 more than half the length of the head, the last spines low, so that the 

 fin is deeply emarginated. 



The membrane of the spinous dorsal is very deejAy incised., more than 

 half the anterior edge of each of the middle spines being above the 

 membrane ; even four-fifths of the length of the highest spine is some- 

 times free anteriorly. This is subject to some variations, but in all cases 

 the bare i)ortion of the spines is much higher than in other species. 

 Soft dorsal high, but lower than spinous dorsal. Caudal truncate. 



Anal fin rather low, the spines short. Second anal sx>ine a little higher 

 than the third, not two -thirds the height of the soft rays. 



D. XIII, 12; xV. Ill, 7. 



Pectoral fins extremely broad and rounded, as in S. rastrelUyer^ the 

 tips reaching beyond the tips of the ventrals, but not to the vent. The 

 base of the fin is greater than the diameter of the eye and about twice^^ 

 the length of the occipital ridge. In hoth. sexes the lower rays are 

 thickened and fleshy. 



Prevailing color a warm brownish yellow, sometimes quite yellow on 

 the sides and below, the back sometimes considerably olive, sometimes 

 reddish tinged. Sid^s of head, front of back, and thoracic region usually 

 most distinctly yellow. The coloration mottled and clouded, but with- 

 out distinct markings except the small spots with which the anterior 

 region is closely covered. They are smallest and most distinct on the 

 thoracic and scapular region. Here they are of a clear orange-brown 

 color. On the top of the head they become more orange, and on the 

 anterior part of the back they become larger and of a bright clear orange. 

 Posteriorly they blend with the ground color. Top of head with dusky 

 cross-shades. Sclerotic coat of eye spotted above with orange. 



Fms all with the membranes slaty black; the pectorals and dorsal 



