214 report — 1845. 



Chirus hexagram mus, Steller (also Hexagrammus asper, MSS.). Labrax 

 hexagrammus, Tilesius, Mem. de l'Ac. de Petersb. ii. pi. 23. f. 3 ; Pallas, 

 Zoogr. Ross. p. 284 ; Temm. et Schl. F. Jap. p. 53. pi. 23. '* Japanese 

 name, Abramee" (Fauna Jap.). 



I have seen no representation of a Chirus in Chinese drawings, but the genus is not un- 

 common on both shores of the Northern Pacific. A species closely resembling this one, if 

 not actually the same, inhabits the harbour of Sitka. (Ch. denarius, Richardson, Ichth. of 

 Voy. of Sulph. p. 78. pi. 44. f. 2.) 



Hab. Coasts of Japan and Kamtschatka. 



Chirus agrammus, Temm. et Schl. (Labrax), F. Jap. p. 56* 



Hab. Sea of Japan. 



Sebastes inermis, C, et V. iv. p. 346 ; Temm. et Schl. F. Jap. p. 47. pi. 21. 

 f. 3 and 4. 

 Hab. Japan. 



Sebastes vachellii, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, 69?; Hardw. Acanth.114? 

 Chinese name, Shih kow kung, " Stony dog" (Reeves); "Rock-dog gen- 

 tleman" (Birch); Shih kow hong (Bridgem. 137). 



In the museum of the Cambridge Philosophical Institution there is a small Sebastes which 

 was brought from China by the Rev. George Vachell, that I have not been able to identify 

 with any described species, neither am I confident that Mr. Reeves's figure ought to be re- 

 ferred to it; hut it agrees better with it than with any other that I have seen. 



Eyes approximated with elevated orbital plates and a ridge dividing the furrow between 

 them. Three acute, falcate teeth on the edge of each orbit, three larger ones behind the 

 orbit, and a small one on the temples. Nasal spines small and acute. Under edge of the pre- 

 orbitar straight, ending in a spinous tooth pointing backwards. A thin unarmed ridge is con- 

 tinued from this tooth across the cheek to the root of the preopercular spine, where it is met 

 by another ridge coming from the under edge of the orbit. These converging lines or ridges 

 enclose a smooth disc, the rest of the cheek being scaly. Operculum armed by two small, 

 flat spinous points and three angular corners. Opercular spines flat, weak and small, with no 

 visible ridges extending from their roots. Gill-cover scaly. Maxillaries and jaws without 

 scales. Angular ridges and points of the supra-scapulars and supra- axillary plate of the co- 

 racoid bone neither strong nor conspicuous. Scales of the body small, oblique and ciliated. 

 Colours of specimen faded. From the uncertainty of the drawing belonging to this species I 

 do not describe its tints in connection with it. 



Hab. Canton. 



Sebastes pachycephalus, Temm. et Schl. F. J. p. 47. pi. 20. f. 3 ; Icon, 

 Reeves, 218 ; Hardw. Acanth. 115. Chinese name, Shihgaouyu, " Proud 

 stone-fish " (Reeves). Rad. D. 13|12 ; A. 3|6 ; P. 7 et 12, &c. 



A specimen exists in the Chinese collection at Hyde Park. The colours are not described 

 in the 'Fauna Japonica;' but the following are the leading tints exhibited in Mr. Reeves's 

 figure : — The body generally is brownish-red, paler and more lively on the under parts, and 

 very dark towards the dorsal line. It is dotted throughout by darker points, apparently one 

 to each scale, and there are several large, pale or bluish round spots on the sides. The head 

 above and on the cheeks is like the body, and beneath it is unspotted. A crimson or reddish- 

 orange is the general tint of the vertical fins, which, except the anal, have also two or three 

 rows of dark round spots. The pectorals are orpiment and reddish-orange, with rows of 

 black dots on the upper or branching rays. The ventrals are reddish -orange without spots. 



Hab. Seas of China and Japan. 



Sebastes longiceps, Richardson. Bad. D. 13|10; A. 2|6; P. 17; V. 1|5. 



In the boxes of insects which are brought from China I have found examples of two spe- 

 cies of Sebastes which appear to be undescribed. One of them has some resemblance to S. 

 pachycephalus, but differs from it, and the rest of its congeners, in the greater comparative 

 length of its head, which is contained twice and a half in the total length of the fish, caudal 

 included. The nasal spines are very small, and there are three small teeth on the slightly 

 raised upper edge of the obit, four or five minute serratures in its middle part, and three larger 

 jagged teeth at its posterior corner. The two low, rounded intra-orbital ridges are separated 

 from each other by a narrow mesial furrow, and the whole space between the eyes does not 



