On Scorpeena dactyloptera, Delaroche. 97 
to three decimetres in length. As food he found it to be 
but little esteemed. 
Further information regarding this species in the Mediter- 
ranean is afforded by several ichthyologists, Risso (2 and 3) 
says that it is very common off Nice, where it is found during 
the whole year amongst rocks at great depths; and is known 
by the name of “ Cardouniero,” from its spines. The female, 
he tells us, is full of eggs in summer; and that though the 
flesh of this fish is of little repute as food, it is made into 
soup. Cuvier and Valenciennes (8) describe it as a beautiful 
species, so much like Sebastes norwegicus in appearance, that 
it is necessary to place the two species side by side to 
distinguish them. These eminent authorities further say 
that this fish is not rare in any part of the Mediterranean, 
but only lives at great depths; and that it attains to a 
length of 18 inches, and then weighs four pounds or there- 
abouts. Guichenot (12) records it for the Algerian seas, and 
Sauvage (20), under the name of Sebastes bibroni, for those 
of Sicily. In the Adriatic, Faber (13) describes it as 
being general, but very scarce, and only quite accidentally 
met with at great depths; and he mentions off Trieste, 
the Island of Cherso, and the Dalmatian coast, as localities 
for it. 
As an Atlantic species, Scorpena dactyloptera has long 
been well known from Madeira, through the useful researches 
of Lowe (9 and 10); who records it as occurring off that 
island at depths varying from 250 to 400 fathoms. In the 
national collection, according to Dr Giinther (14), in addition 
to numerous examples from Madeira, there is one from Lan- 
zarote (Canary Islands), and a fine specimen from Lisbon. 
During the voyage of H.M.S. “Challenger,” two minute 
specimens, respectively only 5 and 9 millimetres in length, 
were obtained as pelagic fishes off St Vincent, Cape de Verd 
Islands, on 26th April 1876. Dr Giinther (4) remarks upon 
these specimens, that “as regards general shape, these youne 
fishes do not differ from the adult, but the spines on the 
occiput and preoperculum are, comparatively, much larger 
and finely denticulated. The pectoral fin also is consider- 
ably longer, extending in the smaller specimens almost to 
VOL. XII. G 
