298 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
the top of the head are much higher and stronger, especially the oceip- 
ital ridge, which forms a wall-like 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, yellowish, 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, with pale spots. 
In the bluntish spines 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. nebulosus. Both species are common in the San Francisco mar- 
ket, in about equal abundance. 
Measurements in hundredths of length to base of caudal. 
a 5 = = ar 
; 5 S a 5 ae 
z 2 3 z ae z 
TAM” Lio 5 Bs SO al MSO 'S 
=) | oa > YE, —) =~ ~ 
ie lg ges 2 2 % < z 
a | oS ~~ =] o 4 
i ra = divas 5 s) 
Body: | | 
Greatest height .-.-....-. 38 36 35. 5 40 | 3 54.5 41 
Least height of tail ...--.. 1 12 12 10. | 12.5 | 9.5 | 9 
Head : | 
Greatest length .....----- | 35), s4l 37.5 38 37.2 40 | 42° 
SnOupiessc reer e eee ees 10 | 9 oh2 || Ee 8.5 10 | 11.3 
Grlitrsssscs ae cea ccs eed! 8.5 8.5 11 | 9. 5. | ore ea se see 1S 
Interorbital space...--.-- 5 6 8 ait 7 6.8 | 6 
Least width of preorbital | 3 | 2.5 1.5 3 2d. Voces steed 2.15 
Marxailany:: oor. oasis <= al | ash 20 17 16 We) | 18. 5 | 20.6 
Longest gill-raker ........ 205 15 3.0 2.3 3 | 3.8 4 
Occipital ridge .-....-.... 6 8 6 9.3 6.5 7.5 | 8 
Supraocular ridge .-..-.-- | 5 6 6 6 5 Bahu 6 
Dorsal: | 
Snontito dorsal’; -2225-,22- | 32.5 35 35 38 33 36. 2 40 
Loneesti spine .-.-.------- 13 13 16 16 Pall 21; 5 15 
Monmestiriyse sess ss ees | 15.5 16 19 15 15,2 16.7 | 14 
Anal: 
BAS@rwessse kt RSs ese 3.5 | 15 15 120 15 1 Re eee 
Second spine ....--. erefere 14 12 14.5 15 14.6 16. 6 16 
(Mhind spinetes sescses cee 14 9 15 13.5 12,.2 14.5 13 
Ont esti ee meee 22 19 20 20) 20 18 15 
Gandallitenahhiqes: Sass ree 20.5 20) g 15.3 TSS 4) 18 18.5 
Pectoral, leneth..o..4.- 22-2 -< 27 27 32 24 27 ye RES 24 
Wrcdthvofibasestee.Nseeeeeeces 11 11 8.8 9.5 il 9.5 10 
WMentral length. -3.2 -2-2-. | 26.5 22 24.5 LORS 22 21 18 
Wosalesasce: seses eee toe daiel|) NOM TSH EXSRNT LS) |) SOLE A ORE AN EXERT ESS | XT V3!) axe 
JADE ssa h Sas GSO CCR DR AeUae HVT; 6 III, 6 Joa 7 Iil,7 IiL,6 III, 6 111, 6 
Transverse rows of scales, -- ay ll 47 47 By) | 56 | -\42 48 
Length to base of gaudal, in 
INGO S ngs sie Bers ars one ae sine 8.7 | 9725 7. 25 Oba SL || 9.3 | 6. 23 
Extreme length, in inches ..-.| 10. 4 | ee eeigisy 101583 | 14. 25 | 11.2 | 8. 55 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., February 28, 1880. 
; ) Yao, 
Norre.—The publication of this paper has been accidentally delayed for some time. 
Meanwhile the writers have discovered a number of additional species of Sebastichthys 
descriptions of which precede those of the present species, although of course no al- 
lusion is made to them in this earlier paper. 
