10 



pointed, with the dorsal surface ascending, 

 so that the greatest depth of the body is 

 about opposite the origin of the pectoral tins ; 

 dorsal outline descending thence to the tail. 



Scales not large, but firm and distinct, cov- 

 ering the body, head as far as the eyes, oper- 

 culum and preoperculurn. The scales also 

 ascend some distance on the caudal tin and 

 soft^ dorsal, less on the pectorals, and very 

 little on the anal, spinous dorsal or ventrals. 

 Each scale is toothed on its free portion, 

 elongated, with the sides nearly parallel and 

 its attached extremity truncate, and in its 

 entire form and structure resembles much 

 more nearly the scale of a Platessa than is 

 common among fishes of this family. The 

 scales are so imbricated that a very small 

 part of each is exposed. 



A remarkable character among the scales 

 suggests the specific name employed. There 

 are on each side five lines, each having the 

 features of an ordinary lateral line ;. i. e.. each 

 scale along the line is grooved or perforated 

 for the passage of a duct. Theyi/wr.originat- 

 ing with its fellow of the opposite side about 

 half an inch anterior to the first dorsal, runs 

 close by the base of the dorsal fins, terminat- 

 ing abruptly at about the posterior third of 

 the second dorsal. The second, about a third 

 of an inch below the first, runs nearly paral- 

 lel with it. the whole length of the body. — 

 The third is in the common position of a 

 lateral line, arising near the upper angle of 

 the branchial aperture : it follows the curve of 

 the back. The fourth arises below the base 

 of the pectoral, passes above the base of the 

 ventral, and terminates abruptly a little in ad- 

 vance ot the base of the anal. The fifth 

 arises, by a single line with its opposite fel- 

 low, near the thoat. passes back, undivided 

 between the ventrals to a point about an inch 

 posterior to those fins, divides and passes 

 along the anal fin to the caudal. 



No spines or serrations on the gill-covers, or 



any part of the head. A flat, fimbriated, 



v process, one-fourth of an inch in height, 



on the posterior superior border of the orbit. 



trill a little anterior to the eye, tubular. 



Jaws quite protractile, the pedicel of the 

 intermaxillary being nearly three-fourths of 

 an inch in length . the maxillary, when the 

 jaws are closed, is received almost wholly 

 under the arch of the anterior suborbitals. — 

 Lip* thick and fleshy. 



Teeth small, but strong, even, rather blunt, 

 crowded, in the lower jaw. and on the inter- 

 maxillaries, the band of them decreasing to 

 a single row posteriorly. Similar teeth on 

 the pharyngeals, the vomer, and a few on the 

 anterior part of each palatine bone. 



Eye half an inch in longitudinal diameter ; 

 distant twice its own diameter from the snout. 



The first dorsal, arising a little anterior to 

 the opercular angle, is two and one-fourth 

 inches in length, one inch and a half in 

 height, rising somewhat abruptly so that the 

 fin is highest at about the third and fourth 

 rays. A membrane is continued from its 

 last ray to the first of the succeeding fin, so 

 that the two fins might almost be counted as 

 one. The rays are spinous but not rigid. 



The second dorsal, continued from the first, 

 is three and three-fourths inches in length, 

 one inch and one-fourth in height, rounded ; 

 the rays are very little branched. 



The pectorals are an inch in length, two 

 inches and a half in height, rounded, all the 

 taye free at their tips, the lower ones espec- 

 ially. 



The ventrals are posterior to the pectorals, 

 rounded, two inches in height. 



The anal arises and terminates on the same 

 plane with the second dorsal : it resembles 

 that fin also in form, height, and division of 

 tha rays, but has the rays free at their tips. 



The caudal is nearly even, an inch and a 

 half in height : rays much branched. 



D. 21. 1.25 ; A. 25 : P. 19 ; V. 1.5 ; C. 16. 



In color this species has commonly a dark 

 grayish brown ground, more or less mottled ; 

 over this are scattered light blue specks and 

 cloudings, which are most abundant on the 

 cheeks. Numerous small circular spots, of a 

 rich reddidi brown, are found on the sides. — 

 Abdomen lighter than the back and side-. — 

 The pectorals are very beautifully marked 

 with narrow light and dark stripes ; the other 

 tins correspond nearly in color with the parts 

 on wliich they are situated, though all are in 

 some degree clouded. 



This is certainly one of the most beautiful 

 fish broughl to our markets. By some of the 

 fishermen it is called Sea Trout, probably be- 

 cause of its elegant form and the spots on its 

 sides; others do not distinguish it from the 

 species of Sebastes. in company with which 

 it is caught, and call it Rock Fish. It has, 

 however, little resemblance to either. While 

 its true position may be deemed somewhat 

 doubtful, it is judged better for the present to 

 arrange it with the genus Grystcs, rather than 

 to attempt a new generic division, as would 

 otherwise be require I. 



0. lineahu is taken in the Bay of San 

 Francisco, bnl i-< apparently not abundant. I 

 have seen no specimens much larger than the 

 one described. 



