PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 465 
rable as a species from Catostomus ardens. Meanwhile we abstain from 
giving a new name until more specimens can be obtained to settle the 
question. 
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, December 4, 1880. 
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF “ROCK-FISH» (SEBASTICH- 
THWS CHARWSOMELAS), FROM THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. 
By DAVID 8S. JORDAN and CHARLES H. GILBERT. 
Sebastichthys chrysomelas, sp. nov. 
(Sebastichthys nebulosus Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. iii, 1880, 73, 
and elsewhere; not Sebastes nebulosus Ayres.) 
In previous papers on the California rock-fish we have provisionally 
identified one of the common species as the Sebastes nebulosus of Ayres. 
Ayres himself, however, considered his own nebulosus as without ques- 
tion the Sebastes fasciatus of Girard, which is the Sebastichthys fascio- 
laris of Lockington. The two species agree closely in general charac- 
ters, but differ in the development of the spines on the head, and 
especially in color, the “ fasciolaris” having the yellow markings in the 
form of small spots or specklings, which are confluent along the sides, 
forming a sort of band, the other species having the yellow areas all 
large. The original description of Sebastes nebulosus Ayres (Proc. Cal. 
Acad. Nat. Sei. i, 5, 1854) applies in the main to both species; but the 
account of the coloration applies to S. fasciolaris Lockington, and not to 
our ‘ §. nebulosus ”. 
Ayres Says: 
“In color this fish is finely mottled with dusky yellow and dark 
brown; on the fins the latter hue predominates, and the lighter mot- 
tlings have rather a bluish aspect.” 
We propose, therefore, to consider fasciolaris a synonym of nebulosus, 
and to give to the species previously called nebulosus by us the new 
name chrysomelas, in allusion to its yellow and black coloration. 
DESCRIPTION.—Body short and stout, not much compressed ; highest 
at the origin of the first dorsal, thence tapering rapidly to the tail. Head 
short, bluntish, the profile very steep. Mouth rather small, nearly 
horizontal, entirely below the axis of the body. Lower jaw rather 
shorter than the upper in the closed mouth; no prominent symphyseal 
knob. Premaxillaries anteriorly on the level of the lower edge of the 
orbit; maxillary reaching the vertical from the posterior margin of the 
pupil. 
Preorbital wide, its neck about half the diameter of the eye, its mar- 
gin sinuate, usually with a spine. 
Ridges on top of head very prominent, high and strong, ending in 
strong spines, which diverge backward. They are a little stronger than 
in S. carnatus, but lower than in S. nebulosus. The following pairs are 
present: Nasal, preocular, supraocular, tympanic, and occipital, tive in 
all. Preopercular spines short and thick, the uppermost usually the 
Proc. Nat. Mus. 80-——30 Feb. 16, 1881. 
. 
