FISH. 47 



and the Pcrcidce. The form is so completely that of a Serranus— which it 

 resembles especially in its dorsal fin, head, maxillary teeth, form and armature 

 of the pieces of the gill cover, and in the arrangement of the scales on the body, — 

 that at first sight no one would hesitate to refer it to that group ; but the vomer 

 and palatines are without teeth* In this respect, indeed, I consider it an important 

 discovery ; as it affords another striking instance of the uncertainty of this 

 character, in cases in which others, which have been generally made sub- 

 ordinate to it, remain constant. It is probable that the time will come, when 

 it will be found necessary to revise some portion of the Percidce and Sciaenidce 

 with reference to a more correct valuation of this character. For the present, 

 however, I refrain from interfering with the Cuvierian arrangement ; and the only 

 alternative is to consider this as a new form among the Scicenidce, where it must 

 be placed along with those genera possessing one dorsal fin, and having seven 

 rays in the branchiostegous membrane. Such are Hcemulon, Pristipoma, and 

 Diagramma ; from all which, however, it is at once distinguished by the absence 

 of pores at the symphysis and on the lower jaw, and by the much more developed 

 spines on the opercle, and from Pristipoma by its having, further, scales on the 

 vertical fins. On the whole, it seems to approach nearest to Hcemulon ; but the 

 crown and snout are more free from scales than in that genus, and the scales on 

 the body are not set in oblique rows, as is the case in so many of the true 

 Sciccyiidce. The head also has no cavernous appearance about it. This new form 

 is from the Galapagos Archipelago. 



Prionodes fasciatus. Jen. 



Plate IX. Fig. 1. 



P. pallide Jiavescenti-fuscus, fasciis transversis plurimis supra rubescenti-nigris infra 

 miniatis; pinnis verticalibus maculis parvis ocellatis : vertice, rostro, et maxillis, 

 nudis ; pr coper culo margine adscendenti denticulato, basali Icevi ; operculo mucrone 

 inter medio forti ; spinis dorsalibus ad apices laciniis investitis ; pinna caudali sub- 

 aquali. 



B. 7 ; D. 10/12 ; A. 3/7 ; C. 1 7 ; P. 18 ; V. 1/5. 



Long. unc. 7. lin. 3. 



Form. — Oval, compressed ; the back not much arched, forming one continuous curve with the 

 profile, which falls gently from the nape ; ventral line less convex than the dorsal. Greatest 



* With the exception of a small rough oblong spot, near the posterior extremity of the left palatine. 



