390 DR. W. O. AYRES ON THE SEBASTOID FISHES [NoV. 10, 



■with Hyla aurea and Pelodryas cfurulea. The specimens I have 

 kept for observation are constantly changing colour, being dark 

 during the daytime, and almost white at night. 



Pelodryas c^rulea. 



This Giant Tree-Frog is widely distributed over almost every part 

 of Australia, and, on account of its frequenting waterspouts and 

 taking up its quarters under the shingles of roofs, may be considered 

 quite a domestic animal. I have seen young ladies nearly go into 

 hysterics when on a sultry summer's night the deep croak of tliis 

 large Batrachian sounded from various corners of the roof — particu- 

 larly when, after an unsuccessful attempt at catching some moth, it 

 has fallen with an uncomfortably dull noise upon the floor of the ve- 

 randah. P. cceridea is a most voracious feeder, and, like Hyla aurea, 

 devours all the other Frogs and its own immature kindred. In its 

 habits it is also nocturnal, though now and then a stray specimen 

 may be seen during the daytime. 



There are several species of Batrachians of the genus Hyla and 

 Cystignathus as yet undescribed ; so that the number of Frogs found 

 in this neighbourhood may be fairly estimated as twenty distinct 

 species. 



7. Notes on the Sebastoid Fishes occurring on the Coast 

 OF California, U. S. A. By Wm. O. Ayres, M.D., C.M.Z.S. 



A remarkable feature in the ichthyic fauna of the coast of Cali- 

 fornia is the occurrence of a large number of species belonging to the 

 old genus Sebastes. They are taken in great quantities, and, being 

 all of excellent quality for the table, they furnish a large proportion 

 of the fresh fish sold in the markets of San Francisco. The different 

 forms are readily distinguished by the fishmongers, though they sell 

 them all under the absurd name of "Rock Cod." Their ichthyo- 

 logical history may be thus recorded. 



In August 1854, Sebastes auriculatus, Gir., S. rosaeeus, Girard, 

 and S. fasciatus, Gir., were published in the 'Proceedings of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.' A few weeks later (in 

 September), before the Philadelphia publication reached California, 

 S. nebulosus, Ayres, S. paucispinis, Ayres, <S. ruber, Ayres, and S. 

 ruber, var. parvus, Ayres, were named in the ' Proceedings of the 

 California Academy of Natural Sciences ;' and in the same paper I 

 indicated another species as perhaps S. variabilis, Cuv. Of these, 

 5. nebulosus is identical with S. fasciatus, Gir. (but as the name fas- 

 ciatus had been preoccupied by Dr. Storer for a species of Massa- 

 chusetts Bay, nebulosus must be retained for the Californian species) ; 

 S. ruber, y&r. parvus, is S. auriculatus, Gir. In November 1854, S. 

 nebulosus, S. paucispinis, S. ruber, and iS. variabilis were mentioned 

 again by me in the ' Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural 



