1894. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 381 



II. Geuiis SEBASTICHTHYS, Gill. 



Sebastichthfis, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 18G2, p. 278 {nigrocinctns). 

 Sebasiichthys, Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii., 1880, p. 287 (sp.) 



(1881). 

 Type. — Sehastes n'Kjrocinctns, Ayres. 



When oiiii'iually defining it Dr. Gill inclnded in tins genns the types 

 which he afterwards* separated nuder other generic names. As here 

 understood it comprises three species which are well separated from all 

 other related genera by the prominent characters set forth in the kej". 

 The parietals in all three species cover all but a small posterior part 

 of the supraoccipital. A fourth species which I have not seen {diploproa) 

 seems to form an aberrant member of the genus. 



ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIES Ol" SEBASTICHTHYS. 



a. Gill-rakers short spatulate or clavate, their broadened tips spiniferoiis. Lower 

 l)ectoral rays thickened and tlesuy. Sides with cross bands. 

 h. Cranial ridges very rough, spinous; Irontals witli high crests between the eyes 

 which sometimes end in coronal spines. Orange rinl, with 5 jet black ver- 

 tical bars. A. Ill, 7; D. XIII, 15 ni(;i;ocincti's, 1. 



ih. Cranial ridges smooth; frontals without crests. 



c. Scales of head ctenoid; cranial ridges very high, their s])iues isolated, high 

 and heavy. Nuchal spines distinct from parietal spines. Dark olive, with 



about 7 oblique black cross bands. A. Ill, 5; D. XIII, 13 serriceps, 2. 



cc. Scales of head cycloid; cranial ridges very low and long, the spines slender, 

 acute. No nuchal spines. Pink or rose red with brilliant crimson cross 



bands rubrivixctus, 3. 



aa. Gill-rakers long, slender, the longest half length of eye. Lower pectoral rays 

 not enlarged. 

 d. Premaxillaries produced on each side of median line, forming two forwardly-pro- 

 jecting dentigerous lobes in the deep emarginatiou, between which Ills the 

 tip of the mandible. Preorbital one-third pui)il, with two strong diverging 

 spines. Eye larger, 3-3i in head; iuterorbital, 1| in orbit, slightly concave. 

 Longest dorsal spine, 2i in head. Second anal spine longer and stronger than 

 third, 2^3 in head. Scales large, minutely spinous, and readily deciduous, 

 very small and cycloid on maxillary, mandible, and breast. Fin membranes 

 thick and scaled. Uniform rose-red above, bright silvery below, sjiarsely 

 black-pnuctate. Peritoneum jet black. Spinous dorsal with dusky margins, 

 the fins otherwise unmarked. Deptli,2J; head, 2i. 1). XIII, 12 or 13; A. Ill, 

 7; tubes, 35 (Gilbert) diploproa, 4. 



1. SEBASTICHTHYS NIGPOCINOTUS (Ayres). 



Sehastes nif/rocinctus, Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., ii, 1859, pp. 25, 217, fig. 61. 

 Svbastichthys nUpocinctus, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862, pp. 278,329.— 



Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii, 1880, p. 455 (1881) (Puget 



Sound, Monterey Bay). — Jordan and JouY, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, \). 



7, IV (1882) (Monterey and Puget Sound).— Jordan and Gilbert, /. c, p. 



59. — Bean, /. c, p. 264 (Puget Sound, Vancouver Island) ; Proc. U. S. Nat. 



Mus. VI, 1883, p. 360, (1884), (Near St. Mary Island, Alaska).— Jordan, Cat. 



Fish. N. Am., 1885, p. 108 (California). 

 Seiastodes nlyrocivctm, Jordan and Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. Am., p. 677, 1883, 



(San Francisco to Vancouver Islaud). — Eigenmann and Ekjexmann, Anu. 



N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1892, p. 355 (Monterey, San Francisco. I'uget Sound). 

 Habitat. — Monterey to Alaska. Rare. 



Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1863, p. 147, 



