SEBASTES CAPENSIS.— Cuv. et Vall. 



Pisces.— Plate XXII. Fig. 1. 



S. ruber, partibus inferioribus pallide purpureo-tinctis ; capite superne aculeis duodecim ; preoperculo 



aculeis quinque, operculo duobus versus apicem armatis; pinna caudali subfalcata. 

 Longitudo e naso ad apicem pinnse caudalis 14 unc. 



Scorp^ena Capensis, Gmel. 



Scorpene Africaine, Lacep. t. iii. p. 266. 



Colour. — The upper surface of the head, its sides to the operculum, and 

 the body above the lateral line, a tint intermediate between chesnut-brown 

 and purplish red, which towards the caudal fin passes into light reddish 

 orange. The edges of most of the scales are of a light pearly colour, and in 

 addition to these slight variegations, there occur also a few irregular-shaped 

 flesh-red spots distinctly indicated in the fresh fish. Lower parts of body 

 below lateral line and hinder portion of operculum buff-orange shaded with 

 aurora-red, and towards lateral line faintly clouded with crimson -red ; the 

 point of operculum carmine-red. Lower jaw, lower portion of operculum, 

 space in front of pectoral and ventral fins, and the upper lips intermediate 

 between brownish purple-red and lake-red. Dorsal fin between lake-red and 

 chesnut-brown. Pectoral, ventral, and caudal fins aurora-red, the two first 

 rayed with lake-red only very faintly towards lower part of pectorals, the 

 caudal is rayed with light orange- coloured brown, and tinged with lake-red. 

 Anal fin pale buff-orange rayed with brownish purple-red. Eyes bright 

 brownish orange, with incomplete rings of bright gall-stone yellow and 

 King's-yellow. 



Form, &c— Figure anteriorly bulky, posteriorly rather slender, the body 

 being much tapered towards the caudal fin. Head large posteriorly, and 

 tapered to the snout ; not quite a third of the length of the fish, and supe- 

 riorly is armed on each side with an irregular row of spines, several of 

 which have their base prolonged horizontally, forming fine sharp heels, best 

 seen in prepared specimens. One of these points occurs immediately inside 



