PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES XATIOXAL MUSEUM. nO 

 130. Sebastichthys serriceps ,1. & G—Trn-fi'^h. 



From San Diego to San Francisco: abundant about Catalina Island 

 m rather deep water among rocks; less common northward, but occa- 

 sionally seen in the San Francisco markets. It reaches a weight of 

 aV)ont ."> pounds. 



181. Sebastichthys nigrociuctus (Ayres) Gill. 



.Monterey to Puget Sound: rather abundant in the Straits ofFuca in 

 very deep water; rare about San Francisco, and only occasionally taken 

 with a hook and line in deep water. It is one of the most striking spe- 

 cies in color, and hence preferred by buyers. It reaches a weight of -4 

 pounds, 



182. Scorpaena guttata Gvd.—S<:orpe>ie ; Sculphi; Scorpio,,. 



Santa Barbara southward ; very abundant in rock^ places, and often 

 m bays and shallow water. It feeds on Crustacea and spawns in spring 

 It IS esteemed as one of the best of food-fishes. It reaches a weio-ht of 

 rarely more than U to I'.pounds. A wound from its dorsal spines'is ex- 

 tremely painful for ji time, like a ])oisoned sting. 



Family COTTID^E. 



183. Nautichthys oculofasciatus Grd. 



^ From San Francisco northward, rare; occasionally taken in Puget 

 Sound in rather deep water. It reaches a length of G to 8 inches. 



184. Biepsias cirrhosus (-Pallas) Gtlir. 



From San Francisco northward, scarce; not rare in Puget Sound 

 where it is sometimes taken in seines. It reaches a length of about G 

 inches. Like the preceding, it is occasionally preserved as a curiosity 



185. Oligocottus anaUs Gnl.—Liifle Scoipio,,. 



From ^Monterey to Lower California; common in rock-pools, and ex- 

 tremely active. It reaches a length of about 4 or o inches. 



186. Oligocottus maculosus Grd.— Johiini/. 



From San Luis Obispo to Alaska; exceedingly abundant northward, 

 m rock-pools and among stones close to shore in sheltered bays One 

 ot the most abundant species on the coast so far as the number of indi- 

 viduals IS (concerned. It reaches a length of 2^ inches, being the smallest 

 01 our marine Cottidw. It is subject to great ^'ariations in colov, de- 

 pendent on the character of its surroundings. 



187. Blennicottus globiceps (Grd.) Gill. 



From Monterey to Puget Sound and northward, in rock-pools, with 

 the preceding. Its motions are, however, much less active. It is no- 

 where abundant. It reaches a length of 5 inches. 



