8C<)i;i".i:\<>ii).s. 



Genus SCORP^NA. 



For»i (if the budi) like that of the Perch or the I'opc. IntcrorlHtal s/jucc ai/d, in most cases, the fop of thr head 

 and the occiput concave. Supraorhital apives and parietal ridges ircll marhed. I'reopercidar spines, as a ride, 5, 



opercular 



Scales of the Itodi/ slit/httii cfoioid or ci/cloid, u-anting or rerg sjuall on the maxillari/ bones. Eyes 



middle-sized [even small) or large. Dorsal fin continuous, wifh 12 strong spinous rags", aind irilh H. Cardiform 

 teeth on the lower j'<ur, the internuuillarii tiones, fhcroiiier and, as a rule, (ni the pididinc tiom-s. Ilranchiostegal 



rays 7. Vertehr(C from 24 to 2(1. No air-bladder. 



The true .Scorjiu'uoids l)eloii<;' to the shores of the 

 tropic se.-is, where they live among the seaweed, which 

 they closely resemble in appeai-aiice, both in their 

 hiiihh- variable coloration and in the foliate dermal 

 Haps which fringe the supei'ior orbital margin and the 

 lateral line on the sides of the body in particular. 

 They sometimes Imry themselves in the sand, an ope- 

 ration in which thev are helped, according to Gux- 

 ther'', by the strong and simjjle, lower rays of the 

 pectoral fins. They have an evil reputation on account 

 of the painful wounds inflicted by their spines; but 

 they are said not to be really poisonous. The transi- 

 tion from these typical Scorpa^noids, to \vhich genus 

 GuNTHEH assigns 40 species, to Sebastes may be traced, 



as we ha\"e mentioned aboxc, through intei-mediate forms 

 with scarcely a single missing link. Tlie deep-sea fi.sh 

 of this genus which belongs to the Norwegian fauna, 

 ranges itself among just these intermediate forms. It 

 is without the naked depression on the top of the head 

 and on the occiput, and entirely without free dermal 

 flaps; the cheeks are densely covered witli scales, and 

 there is sometimes a nari-(jw band of accessory scales 

 on the maxillary bones; and the nund)er of soft rays 

 in the dorsal tin is greater than in tlic most typical 

 Scorpajnoids. For this reason Poey" gave the species a 

 special generic name, Pontinus. In the Scandinavian 

 fauna, however, Avhere the number of species is so small, 

 it may well retain its original name. 



" According fo v. Duben and KonEN Sc. dactyloptera sometimes, though seldom, has 13 spinons rays in the dorsal fin. 

 '' Fische der Stidsee (Mus. GodefEr.), p. 74; Iiitrod. Study of Fishes, p. 414; Hand/j. Icldhyol.. p. 201. 

 ■^ Memorias Cuba, II (1860), p. 172 (according to JoEU., Gilb.)- 



Scandinavian Fishes. 



20 



