PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 55 



of the San Francisco markets. It feeds chiefly on Crustacea and worms. 

 It dies soon after being taken from the water, and does not keep very 

 long before softening. The fish spawns in July. The males (CMropsis 

 constellatus Grd.) and the females {G. guttatus Grd.) differ so much in 

 color that they have been usually taken for distinct species. The form 

 lately described by Mr. Lockington as CMrus maculoseriatus is, so far 

 as we have noticed, always female, and it seems to vary by insensible 

 degrees into the ordinary giittatus. It reaches a length of 15 inches and 

 a weight of 2-3 pounds. It is a food-fish of fair quality, but inferior to 

 the Ojphidon and Sebasticlitliys. 



153. Hesagrammus superciliosus (Pallas) J. & G. — Sea Trout. 



From Monterey northward; not very common south of Puget Sound, 

 and not very abundant there. In food, size, and qualities ideutical with 

 the i)receding. The color is quite variable and the flesh is often blue. 



154. Hexagrammus asper Steller. — Starling. 



(Chirks hcxafjrarnmus Gtbr. ; Clnrus trigrammus Cope.) 



From Puget Sound northward; abundant everywhere in Puget Sound. 

 Taken in rocky places with seines and gill-nets. Intestines usually with 

 long tiisnioid worms. Size and value same as that of other species. 

 The type of CJiirus nehulosus Girard belongs to this species. The tips 

 of the first three soft rays have been broken ofi", and they were taken by 

 Girard for spines. 



Family SCORP^EXID^. 



155. Sebastodes paucispinis (Aj res) Gill. — Boccaccio; Merou ; JacJc ; Tom Cod. 

 Coast from San Francisco to the Santa Barbara Islands, inhabiting 



chiefly reefs in deep water, the young coming near shore. Taken mostly 

 with hook and line. It feeds on various small fish. It reaches a weight 

 of 12 to 14 pounds, and is one of the best food-fishes. Many are taken 

 in the winter at Monterey, and in the summer the young from the 

 wharves. 



Genus Sebastichthys Gill. 



The members of this extensive genus are extremely abundant on our 

 Pacific coast, and form one of the most striking features of its fauna. 

 All are food-fish of good quality, and are sold in the markets under the 

 general name of rock-fish or rock-cod. All the species are ovovivipa- 

 rous. The young are produced in enormous numbers, and are brought 

 forth in early summer or spring. They are then very slender, with large 

 eyes and imjjerfectly developed fins, and are from ^ to ^ inch in total 

 length. 



156. Sebastichthys flavidus (Ayres) Lockiugton. — Yellow-tail. 



From San Diego to Cape Mendocino; very abundant in Monterey 

 Bay and about San Francisco. It is found in both deep and shallow 



