1863.] 



OF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. 



397 



elevated, ending in a free spine ; of the preopercular spines, the 

 upper two are well developed, not very sharp, the lower three form- 

 ing blunt projections ; two opercular spines sharp, not very long. 

 Humeral and scapular somewhat prominent. Spinous dorsal a little 

 higher than the soft portion. Second anal spine higher than the 

 third, and much stouter. 



Colour pale red, becoming lighter beneath, with several light-pink 

 spots on the upper parts of the sides. These spots are commonly 

 three, though occasionally one or two additional irregular ones are 

 seen. Sometimes in the largest specimens the light red of the 

 ground-colour is variegated with numerous minute whitish specks. 



The outline figure (given above) represents the projection of the 

 lower jaw a little more strongly marked than it should be ; and shows 

 also but the lower of the two opercular spines, giving instead one too 

 many on the prseoperculum. Otherwise, though rough, it is tole- 

 rably characteristic. 



S. helvomaculatus is not by any means rare, being brought to the 

 markets of San Francisco in some numbers. They are commonly 

 small, not exceeding a pound in weight, though specimens weighing 

 three to four pounds are sometimes seen. This species has been 

 referred by Mr. Gill (/oc. cit.) to the South American form described 

 by Cuvier, S. ocellatus. The identification may perhaps be correct, 

 for the two doubtless approach each other closely ; but the differ- 

 ence in proportions, in the spines of the head, and in the colouring of 

 the fins, and the wide separation in localities, together with the fact 

 that no specimens have been brought to me among numerous col- 

 lections made on this coast south of Point Conception, have induced 

 me to retain, at least for the present, the name given to our north- 

 ern species. 



