FISH. 37 



This species differs more or less in the details of form, as well as colours, 

 from all those which I can find described by authors. Most of the foreign species 

 of this genus noticed by Cuvier and Valenciennes, come either from the eastern 

 coast of America or the East Indies ; and they do not appear to have received 

 any from that part of the Pacific, whence the present one was obtained. 



Sebastes oculata. Vol.? 



Sebastes oculata, Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. torn. ix. p. 344. 



Form. — Greatest depth contained about three times and three quarters in the entire length. 

 Head about one-third of the same. Eyes large ; the interocular space, equalling rather more 

 than half their diameter, concave, with two longitudinal ridges running respectively parallel to 

 the two superciliary ridges. Two spines on the upper part of the snout, in a line with the 

 nostrils ; one at the anterior part of the orbit ; three at the posterior, passing off in a line 

 towards the occiput, where there are two other moderately strong ones terminating the lateral 

 occipital ridges ; five very strong spines or teeth edging the rounded angle of the preopercle ; 

 two sharp ones at the posterior angle of the opercle, the upper one most developed ; one at the 

 scapula, and two at the suprascapular. There are either three orifices to each nostril, or else, 

 adjoining the two usual openings, a large pore so manifest (at least in this specimen in its dried 

 state) as easily to be mistaken for a third : this additional one is close to the nasal spine. 

 Dorsal spines of only moderate strength : anal stronger, especially the second, which is very 

 stout, as well as the longest of the three ; the third, however, is more than half the length of 

 the soft rays. Pectorals broad and rounded ; their length contained about four times and a 

 half in the entire length ; first ray simple, the next eight branched, the nine lowermost simple 

 again, and rather stouter than the others. The caudal appears to have been square. Scales 

 small and ciliated, covering nearly the entire head, as well as body, but very thinly scattered 

 on the extremity of the snout in advance of the nostrils. 



D. 13/14; A. 3/6; C. 14, and 3 shorter ones; P. 18; V. 1/5. 



Length 10 inches. 



Colour. — " Under surface, sides, branchial covering, and part of the fins, ' tile and carmine red ;' 

 dorsal scales pale yellowish dirty brown." — D. In its present dried state, the colour is of a 

 uniform brown. 



Habitat, Valparaiso. 



This species is probably the S. oculata of Valenciennes ; but the depth 

 rather exceeds, and in its recent state it must have still more exceeded, one-fourth 



