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



of moderate development. The spinous and soft dorsals are about 

 equal in height, the spinous rays quite stout. The second anal spine 

 is higher and stronger than the third. 



The colours in this species are entirely characteristic, and very 

 strongly marked. The fish is of a plain reddish yellow, crossed by 

 five to six very distinct, nearly vertical, broad, dark bands, with 

 commonly two or three similar bands from the eye, one upward and 

 backward, and the others downward and backward. These bauds 

 in my original description were said to be black, and the specific 

 name was given with that understanding. But I have since that 

 time seen specimens in which the bands were of a dark reddish 

 brown when fresh from the water, and became black only on the 

 drying of the surface or on immersion in alcohol. 



S. nigrocinctus is not at all common in our waters, many months 

 often passing without a specimen being taken. It seldom exceeds 

 two pounds in weight. 



2. Sebastes nebulosus, Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. i. p. .5. 



S. fasciatus, Gir. Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1854, p. 146, and 

 P. R. Rep. X. p. 79, pi. 22 (non S. fasciatus, Storer, Proc. Bost. Soc. 

 Nat. Hist. V. p. 31). 



Sebastichthys nebulosus, Gill, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1862, 

 p. 278. 



In this species the spines of the top of the head are less prominent 

 than in S. nigrocinctus. The nasal and anterior supraorbital are sharp, 

 rather strong ; the posterior supraorbital a smooth prominent ridge, 

 ending in a strong spine ; the intraorbital space smooth, not ridged 

 as in S, nigrocinctus ; postorbital spine sharp and strong ; occipital 

 spine a long smooth ridge, prominent, but not near so high as in iS. 

 nigrocinctus, and ending in a sharp spine ; no spines on the subor- 

 bitals ; humeral, scapular, and opercular spines flat, and not promi- 

 nent ; preopercular five, well developed, rather sharp, the two on 

 the lower border more blunted. Spinous dorsal much higher than 

 the soft ; second anal spine higher and stouter than the third. 



The colours are sufficiently well stated by Girard {loc. cit.). S. 

 nebulosus is by no means rare, and is found in the markets of San 

 Francisco at all seasons, seldom exceeding two pounds in weight. 



3. Sebastes atjriculattjs, Gir. Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1854, 

 and P. R. Rep. x. p. 80. 



S. ruber, var. parvus, Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1854, i. 

 p. 7. 



Sebastichthys auriculatus, Gill, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1862, 

 p. 278. 



Sebastes auriculatus, Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. ii. p. 218, 

 fig. 68. 



All the spines of the top of the head regular, smooth, strongly 

 marked, but not very prominent. Nasal stout and sharp ; anterior 



