FISHES SCORPAENIDAE SEBASTES MELANOPS. 



81 



of the head, the spines of which, instead of being raised, are reduced to mere horizontal ridges, 

 terminating posteriorly into acute points. 



The largest specimens which we have seen measure about eight inches in total length, 

 the head forming a little more than the fourth of it. The greatest depth, which corresponds to 

 the thoracic region, is equal to the length of the head. The general aspect of the body is rather 

 elongated than compact. The upper surface of the head exhibits the following pairs of spines 

 or spiny ridges : an internasal or prenasal ; an anterior and a posterior supra-orbital ; a tympa 

 nic ; a post-parieto-frontal, and an occipital ; in all six pairs. The supra-scapular region is 

 provided with three spines, the opercle with two, and the preopercle with five. The most 

 developed may be seen upon the convexity of the preopercle. The mouth is large, for, the pos 

 terior extremity of the maxillary reaches a vertical line drawn a little beyond the posterior rim 

 of the orbit. The lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper. The eye is circular ; its diameter 

 enters four times in the length of the side of the head. 



The spinous portion of the dorsal is about the height of the soft portion ; its outline is regu 

 larly convex. The posterior extremities of the articulated rays extend further back than those 

 of the anal fin. The second anal spine is much stouter than the other two, and deeper also. 

 The posterior margin of the caudal is sub-truncated ; the entire fin is contained about four times 

 and a half in the total length of the fish. The ventrals are inserted at a small distance from 

 the base of the pectorals. The latter are broadly developed, and their extremity extends as far 

 as, perhaps farther than, the tip of the ventrals which reach the vent. There are seven 

 branchiostegal rays. 



Br. VII: VII; D XIII, 14; A III, 7 ; C 4, 1, 6, 5, 1, 3 ; V I, 5 ; P 18. 



The scales are of moderate development, a little longer than deep, and, as usual, ciliated upon 

 their posterior margin. The lateral line follows the curve of the back, to which it is parallel. 



The color is reddish brown above, as also on the sides, becoming lighter and somewhat 

 yellowish towards the abdomen. The back is clouded with blackish. A large black spot covers 

 the upper region of the opercle. Two narrow bands of the same hue extend obliquely from the 

 orbit to the edge of the gill cover, more conspicuously, however, in the young than in the adult. 



List of speclm&ns. 



4. SEBASTES MELANOPS, Grd. 



SPEC. CHAR. Upper surface of head generally spineless. Posterior extremity of maxillary reaching a vertical line drawn 

 anteriorly to the posterior rim of the orbit. Origin of dorsal fin opposite to, or slightly in advance of, the base of pectorals 

 Upper regions blackish brown ; sides brownish, spotted with black ; beneath greyish brown. 



SYN. Sebastes melanops, GRD. Proc. Acad. Nat Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 135. 



Sebastes variabilis, ATRES (non Cuvier), Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 1854, 7 ; Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat Hist. V, 1855, 9. 



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