48 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



depth equalling one-fourth of the entire length ; head about one-third ; thickness rather less 

 than two-thirds of the depth. Mouth rather wide, with the lower jaw longest. The maxillary 

 dilates at its posterior extremity ; it reaches to nearly beneath the middle of the orbit, and does 

 not retire beneath the suborbital. In each jaw a band of velutine teeth ; above there is an 

 outer row of longer ones in card, and one or two in front on each side still longer resembling 

 small canines ; in the lower jaw there are also a few longer ones, of the same character as these 

 last, interspersed at intervals. Tongue free at its extremity, and, as well as the vomer and 

 palatines, without teeth. Eyes rather high in the cheek ; their diameter about one-sixth that 

 of the head. The nostrils consist of two small round orifices a little in advance of the eyes, 

 the anterior one covered by a membranous flap. Margin of the suborbital entire. Preopercle 

 finely denticulated on its ascending margin, which is vertical and slightly convex; but the 

 denticulations almost disappear at the angle, and are not visible at all on the basal margin. 

 Opercle triangular, with three flat spines, the middle one longest, beyond which the membrane 

 projects in the form of an angular process to the distance of three lines. Small scales on the 

 cheeks and preopercle; but none on the crown, snout, first suborbital, maxillary, or lower jaw; 

 scales on the opercle larger, equalling those of the body in size. Gill-opening large, with the 

 branchial membrane deeply notched in the middle. 



Lateral line following the curvature of the back at one-fourth of the depth. Scales on the 

 body moderately large : one taken from the middle of the side above the lateral line is of a 

 somewhat oblong form, with the free edge rounded and finely ciliated ; the basal portion with 

 fourteen slightly converging strise, which form at the hinder margin as many, but not very 

 distinct, crenations. 



The dorsal commences above the terminating lobe of the opercle, and reaches to within a 

 short space of the caudal : height of the spinous portion, which, with the exception of the first 

 two spines, is nearly even throughout, about one-third of the depth ; soft portion rather higher, 

 with the last two rays but one longest, and forming a point backwards ; all the soft rays 

 branched. Anal commencing in a line with the soft portion of the dorsal, and terminating a 

 little befoi'e that fin ; three spines, the second one-third longer than the first, and a little lono-er 

 than the third, and much the strongest of all ; the soft portion of the anal is similar to that of 

 the dorsal, and terminates in like manner in a point behind. Space between the anal and 

 caudal a little less than one-sixth of the entire length. The caudal appears to have been nearly 

 even, or perhaps slightly rounded, but the rays are worn. Rows of very minute scales, not 

 very obvious, between the rays of all the vertical fins. Pectorals slightly rounded ; more than 

 half the length of the head ; all the rays with the exception of the first two and the last, 

 branched. Ventrals attached beneath, or perhaps a very little in advance of the pectorals ; 

 pointed, with the second soft ray longest. No lengthened scale or process of any kind in the 

 axilla of either ventrals or pectorals ; neither are the former fastened to the abdomen by a 

 membrane half their own length, as is the case in many of the Serrani. 

 Colour. — " Pale yellowish brown, with numerous transverse bars, of which the upper part is 

 reddish black, the lower vermilion red ; gill-covers, head, and fins, tinted with the same." — D. 

 Mr. Darwin has not noticed some small round black spots surrounded by a white border, 

 and having an ocellated appearance, which are very evident on the upper half of the soft portion 

 of the dorsal : there is a faint indication of similar spots on the anal and caudal. 



Habitat, Chatham Island, Galapagos Archipelago. 



