THK FISHES OF BERING SEA. 



461 



the rays in these and the pectoral fins often white. A large, blackish hnmeral spot 

 in young specimens, often disappearing in adults. One specimen (Iturup Island) has 

 the upper parts, including dorsal and caudal flns, bright reddish, with some dusky 

 blotches and cloudings, the humeral spot conspicuous. The fin rays are as follows in 

 12 specimens : 



For convenience we append a ^hort diagnosis of each of the known species of 

 Hexagrammos. It will be noted that all of these, except H. otaMi, were known to 

 Pallas. H. otakii has also been long known to collectors, though but recently distin- 

 guished from M. stelleri (M. hexagrammus). It seems probable that all existing species 

 of Hexagrammos are now known to us. There are uniformly live lateral lines on each 

 side in all species of Hexagrammos. The second, third, and fifth lines are complete in 

 all, while the first and fourth are variously developed, and offer valuable specific 

 characters. 



a. Cheeks and opercles fully invested -with cycloid scales, including the area overlying suborbital 

 stay; snout, jaws, preorbital, interopercle, and adjacent portion of preopercle 

 scaleless. Breast and prepectoral area with cycloid scales much less than half 

 the size of those on sides; scales elsewhere ctenoid. Ten or 11 scales in an 

 oblique series between lateral line and the one above it. Upper line of pores 

 extending to or beyond middle of soft dorsal, the fourth line unbranched, 

 extending to opposite middle of anal; lower line branching usually behind 

 middle of ventrals. Membranes of soft dorsal and caudal densely scaled for more 

 than half height of fin. Two pairs of cutaneotts flaps on head, the usual supraoc- 

 ular pair, less than half diameter of pupil, and a much smaller occipital pair 

 which is present in no other species. Dorsal deeply notched. Caudal emargi- 

 nate when closed, slightly convex when widely spread. Adults brightly colored, 

 the males with large sky-blue spots, the females with smaller red or orange 

 spots. Young sometimes plain brown, with dark plain humeral spot. D., XXI, 

 24 ; A., 24. Sitka,' to Monterey H. dbcagrammus. 



aa. Cheeks not fully scaled, the area, at least, overlying suborbital stay naked. No flap on occiput. 

 b. Fourth line of pores short, forking in advance of base of ventrals, the lower branch running to 

 base of ventral fin, where it ends, the upper branch usually short, ending oppo- 

 site middle of ventrals, rarely longer. Second line reaching middle of second 

 dorsal. Scales very roughly ctenoid, except on breast, prepectoral region, and 

 sides of head. Seven or 8 scales in an oblique series between third lateral line 

 and the one above it. Lower line forked in front of middle of ventral fin. Caudal 

 densely covered with comparatively large scales to behind middle of fin, the scales 

 in single series except on middle rays. Supraorbital flap large, coarsely fringed, 

 equaling or exceeding vertical diameter of eye. Eye very small, 5J in head in 

 adults. Caudal peduncle deep, its depth greater than length of snout, the caudal 

 fin very broad, rounded behind, even when the fin is closed. Dorsals deeply 

 notched. Adults usually deep brown, with blackish mottlings and more or less 

 distinct traces of radiating streaks around the eye, and a round dusky humeral 



^Becorded by Dr. Bean from Unalaska; but this record needs verification. It is abundant at Sitka, both the large- 

 spotted (mamloaeriatut) and small-spotted females iguUatua) being present, but no males {consteUatus) were seen. 



