76 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



Instead of scales, the skin is studded all over with minute prickles, extending somewhat 

 along the rays of the fins. 



The ground color is of a uniform rusty red, with a hlack hand through the middle region of 

 tlie orbit, and directed obliquely downwards and backwards across the cheeks. The anterior 

 portion of the dorsal being blackish ; the dorsal, caudal, and pectorals obsoletely barred with 

 black ; the anal blackish also ; and, tlie ventrals preserving the hue of the ground color. 



List of specimens. 



Family SCORPAENIDAE, Swains. 



The body is always covered with scales ctenoid in structure, and the dorsal fin unique, the 

 spinous portion combining closely with the soft portion. The head is large, and more or less 

 spinous, a trait most develoyed in cottoids ; and, the genus Scorpaena, in addition to spines, 

 exhibits membranous or cutaneous flaps or appendages, which give to it a very unprepossessing 

 appearance. Similar,' though less numerous a232:iendage8, we have observed in some heterolfiiids 

 and cottoids also. Another feature, peculiar to the genus Sebastes, it is true, resuL,, .mm ^^^ 

 fact that small scales extend all over the head to its upper surface, as well as the sides, to the 

 very tip of the snout and along the jaws. There are seven branchial rays in all, and the branchial 

 apertures or gill openings, whichever called, are continuous under the throat. The gills them- 

 selves are three and a half on either side, the fourth having but one branchial comb developed. 

 The last branchial split, consequently, does not exist. 



The fishes of this family are all marine. 



The species of Sebasfes are marketable fishes, and are sold at San Francisco under the 

 names of rock-fish and rock-cod. Some of them reach a considerable size, weighing from one 

 to four pounds, and quite esteemed as an article of food, hence one of the great resources on the 

 coast of California. 



SCORPAENA, Art. 



Gen. CiiAn. — Surface of head spinous, scaleless, covered with a soft and spongy skin, and provided also with cutaneous 

 flaps. Mouth largo, though moderately cleft ; jaws sub-equal ; lower one slightly projecting. Teeth upon the premax- 

 illaries, dentaries, front of the vomer, and along the palatines. Gill openings continuous under the throat ; branchiostcgal 

 rays seven on either side. One dorsal fin ; anterior portion spinous. Caudal fin rounded off posteriorly. Ventrals inserted 

 somewhat behind the base of the pectorals. Body covered with pectinated scales. Lateral line concurrent with the 

 dorsal outline. 



SYti.—Sm-pa^m, Abtkdi, Gen. Pise. 1738 ; edit. Wa/hmtm, 1792, 374.— Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. VIal748 ; &, ed. 

 Xal, 1758, 266.— Cuv. & Val. Hist. nat. Poiss. IV, 1829, 286.— Siorbb. Synops. 1846, 59. 



