23 



coloration of the adults varies greatly. The brown markings some- 

 times cover almost the entire fish, and different shades of brown 

 occur in the same individual. The young is spotted with round 

 spots of a light yellowish-brown, and it was to the young that the 

 name Ophiodon elongatus was originally given by Girard, who 

 described the adult with the title of Oplopomn pantherina. Op)liiodon 

 elongatus was said to have a continuous dorsal, with twenty-seven 

 spines and no membranous flap upon the forehead, while Oplopoma 

 paiitlierina was characterized by two separate dorsals, the first with 

 twenty-five spines, and by the presence of a membranous flap. Dr. 

 Steindacimer corrects this error {Icth.yologisclie Beitrage, No. III.), 

 and proves that the continuous dorsal and membranous flap are 

 characters of the species. 



The correct number of spines is twenty-seven, but the adult 

 frequently comes to market in a dilapidated condition, with the 

 spines torn apart from each other, or even broken away, and it is 

 most probable that Girard described his Oplopoma 'pardherina from 

 such a mutilated specimen. Young and half-grown individuals are 

 common in the Bay of San Francisco, but the larger examples are 

 taken in tolerably deep water, outside of the bay, especially in the 

 vicinity of the Farallones. Steindachner gives the range of this 

 species as from Sitka to Monterey. This is a highly carnivorous fish. 

 The fishermen describe it as the terror of the inliabitants of the 

 rocks ; the other fishes hide for fear of it, and are often seized off the 

 hooks by it. 



Another chiroid, not usually called a rock-fish, is Anoplopoma fim- 

 bria, a species which, though rare in our markets, except in Septem- 

 ber and October, is of more common occurrence northwards, and 

 occurs also along the northern coast of eastern Asiatic Russia. 

 Examples sold here seldom reach a length of more than twelve or 

 occasionally sixteen inches. 



SCORPCENID^. 



The sea-scorpions are easily recognized by their ctenoid scales, spinous heads and gill-covers, 

 and single dorsal fin. The union of the dorsals and the presence of true scales, always spinous 

 on their free margins, distinguishes this family from the Cottidce; while the larger head, the 

 armature of spines, the usually stouter body and the rougher scales, distinguish it from the 

 Chiridce. Exclusively marine; of wide distribution. 



SebastichtJiys flavidus, Ayres, Gill, Yellow Rock-cod — This is one 

 of the most abundant of the rock-fishes, equaling in this respect 

 ruber and pinniger. It may be known by the greenish-brown and 

 yellowish-green tints of the back and sides, as well as by the third 

 anal spine, which exceeds the second in length, instead of only equal- 

 ing it, as in Sebastichthys m^elanops. The spines upon the top of the 

 head are not large. In size it equals Sebastichthys melanops. Those 

 brought to market are taken outside the bay. 



Sebastichthys pinniger, Gill, Smooth Red Rock-cod — This species 

 was first noticed by Ayres (Proceedings California Academy of Science, 

 11, 1862, p. 207), but was, by that ichthyologist, wrongly identified with 

 the Sebastichtliys rosaceus of Girard. It became, therefore, necessary 

 to rename it. 



Sebastichthys pinniger appears to attain a larger size than any of the 

 other nearly related rock-fish, except Sebastichthys ruber, which it 

 usually equals in length but not in weight, as it is of more slender 



