76 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
Instead of scales, tlie skin is studded all over with minute prickles, extending somewhat 
along the rays of the fins. 
The ground color is of a uniform rusty red, with a hlack band through the middle region of 
the orbit, and directed obliquely downwards and backwards across the cheeks. The anterior 
portion of the dorsal being blackish ; the dorsal, caudal, and pectorals obsoletely barred with 
black ; the anal blackish also ; and, the ventrals preserving the hue of the ground color. 
List of specimens. 
<D 
rO 
W 
a 
a 
a 
<X> 
S3 
to 
£ 
*3 
o3 
O 
No. of specime 
Locality. 
When 
collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of speci¬ 
mens. 
Collected by— 
512 
1 
E’ortSteilacoom, Puget’s Sound 
Nov. 1854 
Dr. Geo. Suckley, U. S. A. 
Alcoholic_ 
Dr. Suckley. 
Family SCORE AENIDAE, Swains. 
The body is always covered with scales ctenoid in structure, and the dorsal fin unique, the 
spinous portion combining closely with the soft portion. The head is large, and more or less 
spinous, a trait most develoyed in cottoids; and, the genus Scorpaena, in addition to spines, 
exhibits membranous or cutaneous flaps or appendages, which give to it a very unprepossessing 
appearance. Similar, though less numerous appendages, we have observed in some heteroWids 
and cottoids also. Another feature, peculiar to the genus Sebastes, it is true, resuL,, , xom the 
fact that small scales extend all over the head to its upper surface, as well as the sides, to the 
very tip of the snout and along the jaws. There are seven branchial rays in all, and the branchial 
apertures or gill openings, whichever called, are continuous under the throat. The gills them¬ 
selves are three and a half on either side, the fourth having but one branchial comb developed. 
The last branchial split, consequently, does not exist. 
The fishes of this family are all marine. 
The species of Sebastes are marketable fishes, and are sold at San Francisco under the 
names of rock-fish and rock-cod. Some of them reach a considerable size, weighing from one 
to four pounds, and quite esteemed as an article of food, hence one of the great resources on the 
coast of California. 
SCORPAENA, Art. 
Gen. Char.— Surface of head spinous, scaleless, covered with a soft and spongy shin, and provided also with cutaneous 
flaps. Mouth large, though moderately cleft; jaws sub-equal; lower one slightly projecting. Teeth upon the premax- 
illaries, dentaries, front of the vomer, and along the palatines. Gill openings continuous under the throat; branchiostegal 
rays seven on either side. One dorsal fin; anterior portion spinous. Caudal fin rounded off posteriorly. Ventrals inserted 
somewhat behind the base of the pectorals. Body covered with pectinated scales. Lateral line concurrent with the 
dorsal outline. 
Syn.— Scorpana, Artedi, Gen. Pise. 1738 ; edit. Walbaum, 1792, 374.— Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. VIal748 ; &, ed. 
X a I, 1758, 266.—Cuv. & Val. Hist. nat. Poiss. IV, 1829, 286.— Storer. Synops. 1846, 59. 
