38 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



of the entire length, the proportion given in the " Histoire des Poissons." The 

 spines on the opercle and suprascapular also can hardly be called " smaller " as 

 there stated, than those on the orbit and occiput, at least the upper one on the 

 opercle. There are also two soft rays less in the anal. It may be added further, 

 that Mr. Darwin's notes make no mention of the four brilliant rose-coloured spots 

 along the base of the dorsal fin, spoken of by Valenciennes. 



The S. oculata was discovered by M. Gay at Valparaiso, where Mr. Darwin's 

 specimen also was obtained. It is the only species of this genus on record 

 brought hitherto from South America. It may be stated, however, that Mr. 

 Darwin has a drawing of another species, made by Mr. P. King, found also at 

 Valparaiso, differing from the above in having the spines on the head less 

 developed, and apparently, in some of its characters, approaching the S. variabilis. 

 This last is a species inhabiting the sea which separates N. America from 

 Kamtschatka. 



Agriopus hispidus. Jen. 



Plate VII. Fig. 2. Twice nat. size. 

 Fig. 2 a. Nat. size. 

 Fig. 2 h. Portion of the hispid cuticle magnified.* 



A. pallide rubro-aurantius, dor so nigricante, pinnis nigro-maculatis : corpore hispido, 

 altitudine tertiam partem longitudinis cequante ; spinis nasalibus dudbus parvis 

 recurvis ; vomere dentibus velutinis minutissimis instructo : pinna dorsali incequali, 

 antice allevatd, spinis quartd et quintd paulo longissimis, succedentibus gradatim 

 diminutis, ultima radiis articulatis multd breviori. 



D. 17/13; A. 1/8; C. 13, &c. ; P. 9; V. 1/5. 

 Long. unc. 1. lin. 9. 



Form. — General form resembling that of the A. torvus, but the depth much greater, equalling one- 

 third of the entire length, or very nearly. Length of the head somewhat less than the depth 

 of the body. The line of greatest depth passes through the insertion of the pectorals. The 

 profile viewed apart from the superciliary ridges, which are sharp and prominent, falls in a 

 straight but very oblique line from the commencement of the dorsal to the mouth. On each 

 side of the median line of the snout, in advance of the eyes, is a small but sharp spine, 

 directed upwards and backwards. There are also two minute spines on the first suborbital 

 immediately above and behind the end of the maxillary ; these are placed one over the other, 

 the uppermost, which is the sharpest and most conspicuous, taking an upward direction like the 



* Called by mistake in the plate " magnified scales." 



