Chapter I: Part 1

THE
ZOOLOGY
OF
THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. BEAGLE,
UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN FITZROY, R.N.
DURING THE YEARS
1832 TO 1836.

_PUBLISHED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER
MAJESTY’S TREASURY._

=Edited and Superintended by=

CHARLES DARWIN, ESQ. M.A. F.R.S. F.G.S., ETC.

NATURALIST TO THE EXPEDITION.

PART IV.

FISH,

BY

THE REV. LEONARD JENYNS, M.A., F.L.S., &c.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY SMITH, ELDER, AND CO. 65, CORNHILL.

MDCCCXLII.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY,
OLD BAILEY.

FISH,

=Described by=

THE REV. LEONARD JENYNS, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S.

FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND, AND OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF
NATURAL HISTORY.

ILLUSTRATED BY NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.

INTRODUCTION.

The number of species of Fish described or noticed in the following Part of the Zoology of the Beagle, amount to 137. It is right to observe that, judging from Mr. Darwin’s manuscript notes, relating to what he obtained in this department, this is probably not more than half the entire number which he collected. Unfortunately a large portion of the valuable collection sent home by him arrived in this country in too bad condition for examination, and was necessarily rejected.

The localities visited by Mr. Darwin, and at every one of which more or fewer species of fish were obtained, were the Cape Verde Islands,—the coast of Brazil, including the mouth of the Plata, together with several inland rivers and streams in that district,—the coasts of Patagonia, and the Santa Cruz river,—Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands,—the Archipelago of Chiloe,—the coasts of Chile and Peru,—the Galapagos Archipelago,—Tahiti,—New Zealand, King George’s Sound in Australia,—and, lastly, the Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean. The great bulk of the species, however, are from the coasts, east and west, of South America.

The particular locality assigned to each species respectively in the following work may be relied upon as correct; pains having been taken by Mr. Darwin to affix a small ticket of tin, with a number stamped upon it, to each specimen, and to enter a note immediately in the manuscript catalogue, having the same number attached. In only three or four instances these tickets were found wanting, on the arrival of the collection in this country.

A considerable portion of the species examined and described are new to science, especially of those collected in South America, and the adjoining Islands and Archipelagos. The new ones are supposed to amount to seventy-five at least, constituting more than half the entire number; and amongst these are apparently seven new genera.

It may be interesting to state more particularly from what localities the new species principally come, and what proportion they bear to the _entire_ number brought from each of those localities. Thus from Brazil _about half_ are considered new;—from Patagonia _at least half_;—from Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos Archipelago, _all are new_, without exception; and _nearly all_ from Chiloe, and the coasts of Chile and Peru. Of the species brought from Tahiti, New Holland, and the Indian Ocean, not above _one-fourth_ are new. This might have been anticipated from the better knowledge which we have of the Ichthyology of that quarter of the globe, than of South America.

It is much to be regretted that the portion of the collection which has been lost to science, was obtained in localities most abounding in novelties, judging from that portion of it which has been saved. Thus, not above five or six species will be found noticed in the following work, from Tierra del Fuego, where Mr. Darwin took especial pains to collect all he could, and, judging from his manuscript catalogue, he must probably have obtained between thirty and forty. From the Falkland Islands again, there have been only saved two out of fifteen or sixteen,—from the coasts of Chile and Peru, not half the entire number obtained, and not above half from the coasts of Patagonia.

There is also described not above half the species brought from King George’s Sound, and the Keeling Islands; but as the Indian and Australian species, or at least the former, have been more frequently brought to Europe than the South American, they are less to be regretted than these last.

It is fortunate that _the whole_ of the species obtained by Mr. Darwin in the Galapagos Archipelago, amounting to fifteen, have been preserved, and are described in the following pages.

It may now be useful to mention, to what groups principally—first, the entire number of described species belong, and, secondly, that portion of them which are considered new. Both these points will be best judged of from the following table, in which the whole collection is parcelled out according to the families.

ACANTHOPTERYGII.

PERCIDÆ Entire No. of species 18 whereof new 11
MULLIDÆ 3
TRIGLIDÆ 3 1
COTTIDÆ 2 2
SCORPÆNIDÆ 4 2
SCIÆNIDÆ 10 5
SPARIDÆ 1 1
MÆNIDÆ 2
CHÆTODONTIDÆ 2
SCOMBRIDÆ 7 3
TEUTHYDIDÆ 2
ATHERINIDÆ 3 2
MUGILIDÆ 3
BLENNIDÆ 11 7
GOBIDÆ 3 2
LABRIDÆ 7 5
LOPHIDÆ 1
—— ——
TOTAL 82 TOTAL, NEW 41

MALACOPTERYGII.

SILURIDÆ Entire No. of species 3 whereof new 2
CYPRINIDÆ 7 6
ESOCIDÆ 1
SALMONIDÆ 8 7
CLUPEIDÆ 5 5
PLEURONECTIDÆ 6 1
[probably more.]
CYCLOPTERIDÆ 2 2
ECHENEIDIDÆ 1
ANGUILLIDÆ 6 2
[perhaps more.]
—— ——
TOTAL 39 TOTAL, NEW 25

LOPHOBRANCHII.

SYNGNATHIDÆ Entire No. of species 3 whereof new 3

PLECTOGNATHI.

TETRODONTIDÆ Entire No. of species 7 whereof new 4
BALISTIDÆ 5 1
—— ——
TOTAL 12 TOTAL, NEW 5

CYCLOSTOMI.

PETROMYZONIDÆ Entire No. of species 1 whereof new 1

TOTAL IN THE SEVERAL ORDERS.

ACANTHOPTERYGII Entire No. of species 82 whereof new 41
MALACOPTERYGII 39 25
LOPHOBRANCHII 3 3
PLECTOGNATHI 12 5
CYCLOSTOMI 1 1
—— ——
GRAND TOTAL 137 GRAND TOTAL, NEW 75

It appears from the above table that of the entire number of species, three-fifths belong to the Acanthopterygian fishes,—rather more than one-fourth to the Malacopterygian,—and about one-eighth to the remaining orders united.

In the Acanthopterygians, the _new_ species amount to one-half; in the Malacopterygians, to about two-thirds; in the remaining orders together, to rather more than one-half.

Looking, therefore, to the entire number of species described, the Acanthopterygians prevail; and it is in the same order that there are most new ones: but looking to the proportion, which in each order the new ones bear to the entire number, it is among the Malacopterygians that this proportion will be found highest.

Restricting our view, it will be also seen, in the Malacopterygians, that the new species are relatively most numerous in the fresh-water groups, such as the _Siluridæ_, the _Cyprinidæ_, and _Salmonidæ_, in which three families taken together, they amount to five-sixths of the whole. The _Clupeidæ_ are an exception, in which all the species are apparently new.

All the species described, belonging to the three families above mentioned, in which there are so many new, viz. the _Siluridæ_, the _Cyprinidæ_, and _Salmonidæ_, are from South America, and the Falkland Islands, excepting one from New Zealand.

Of the remaining fresh-water fishes in the collection, three out of five are presumed to be new. One of these is a species of _Perca_, from the Santa Cruz river, in South Patagonia; the second is a species of _Dules_, from the river Matavai, in Tahiti; the third a species of _Atherina_, from Valparaiso. Perhaps, however, this last is not strictly an inland species.

The entire number of fresh-water species in the collection is twenty-three, and the entire number of new ones amongst these is eighteen. The large proportion of these latter is a circumstance in confirmation of a remark which Cuvier has somewhere made, that the fresh-water fishes of foreign countries are much less known and understood than those found on the coasts. It may serve also as a hint to future travellers.

The seven new genera in the collection belong—one to the _Sciænidæ_, from the Galapagos Archipelago;—one to the _Scombridæ_, from North Patagonia;—three to the _Blennidæ_, whereof one is from the Archipelago of Chiloe, the second from the Falkland Islands, and the third from New Zealand;—one to the _Cyprinidæ_, embracing three species, from South Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and New Zealand; and, lastly, one to the _Salmonidæ_, embracing two species from the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego respectively.

It has been already mentioned, that all the species obtained by Mr. Darwin in the Galapagos Archipelago have been preserved. As they are likewise all new, and those islands appear to have been scarcely visited by any naturalist previously, it may be interesting to enumerate the several genera to which they belong, and the number of species in each genus respectively.

SERRANUS 3 species Fam. PERCIDÆ. ACANTHOPTERYGII.
PRIONOTUS 1 „ —— TRIGLIDÆ. „
SCORPÆNA 1 „ —— SCORPÆNIDÆ. „
PRIONODES _N.G._ 1 „ —— SCIÆNIDÆ. „
PRISTIPOMA 1 „ „ „ „
LATILUS 1 „ „ „ „
CHRYSOPHRYS 1 „ —— SPARIDÆ. „
GOBIUS 1 „ —— GOBIDÆ. „
COSSYPHUS 1 „ —— LABRIDÆ. „
GOBIESOX 1 „ —— CYCLOPTERIDÆ. MALACOPTERYGII.
MURÆNA 1 „ —— ANGUILLIDÆ. „
TETRODON 2 „ —— TETRODONTIDÆ. PLECTOGNATHI.
——
15

In making the foregoing estimates, as regards the number of new species brought home by Mr. Darwin, I have been guided almost entirely by my own judgment. The difficulty, however, of ascertaining, in a miscellaneous collection of this nature, brought from various localities, what _are_ really new to science, is very great; and this difficulty is much increased, where an author is situate apart from large public museums to which he might have recourse for comparison. Possibly, therefore, some of those described as new in the following work, may not be so in reality; and, in one instance, as mentioned in the Appendix, this is known to be the case. My excuse, however, must rest upon what has been just stated. It is hoped that caution has been generally shown, at least in regard to specimens not in a good state of preservation; and, in several such cases, in which an accurate description was hardly practicable,—though they could not be referred to any known species,—they are not positively declared new, nor any names imposed upon them whatever.

I have, of course, consulted throughout the invaluable volumes of Cuvier and Valenciennes, so far as they have yet advanced in the subject; and in them it will be found that a few species, brought by Mr. Darwin from South America, and still but little known, had nevertheless been previously obtained from the same country by M. Gay. The zoological atlasses of the three great French voyages by Freycinet, Duperrey and D’Urville have been also carefully looked through; and, in regard particularly to the fish of South America, the works of Humboldt, Spix and Agassiz, and the more recent one, now in course of publication, by M. D’Orbigny.

There is an equal difficulty felt by every naturalist at the present day, in distinguishing species from varieties. And in the case of Fish, residing in a peculiar element, and so much removed from our observation,—we are almost at a loss to know, at present, to what extent their characters may be modified by local and accidental causes, or how far we may trust a different geographical position for giving permanence and value to a slight modification of form different from what occurs in the species of our own seas. Still less easy is it to determine the true importance of characters, in instances in which it is only permitted to see a single specimen of the kind, or, at most, very few individuals.

Many mistakes, therefore, are liable to occur, in a work of this nature, arising from the above sources. The only way to prevent their creating any permanent confusion in the science, is to describe all species of which the least doubt is entertained, in such detail, and with such accuracy, that they may not fail of being recognized by any observer, to whom they may occur a second time. They will not then _continue to hold a false position_ in the system, as _spurious_ species. They may not be new, or they may not be species at all,—but they will be _known_; and any mistake which has been committed will be at once rectified,—any new name which has been wrongly imposed, immediately degraded to a synonym.

Accordingly I have been careful in this respect; and I have in some instances, given full descriptions, even of species which are certainly not new, but which I did not find described by previous authors with all the detail that was requisite for completely identifying them; or, leaving out what they have noticed, I have added such characters as they have omitted. My main object has been to render all the species, whether rightly named or not, easily recognizable; and, however little the science may be advanced by what is brought forward, to make that advance, so far as it goes, sure.

The method of description, and the mode of computing the fin-ray formula, will be found conformable to the plan adopted in the “Histoire des Poissons” of Cuvier and Valenciennes; a work which, in so many respects, must always serve as a model to labourers in this department of zoology.

The colours, in the great majority of instances, were, fortunately, noticed by Mr. Darwin in the recent state. The nomenclature employed by him for the purpose is that of Patrick Syme; and he informs me, that a comparison was always made with the book in hand, previous to the exact colour in any case being noted. Where I have observed any markings left unnoticed by Mr. Darwin, I have added them myself; and, in most instances, I have given the general disposition of the colours as they appear in spirits, from the circumstance of their being often so much altered by the liquor, and liable to mislead those, who have only the opportunity of seeing them in preserved specimens. This is what Cuvier and Valenciennes have frequently done in their work; and from them I have borrowed the practice.

In a work of this nature, it has not been thought desirable to enter into any discussion of the principles of scientific arrangement, or to effect any change in systems already received; its main object being the description of species. For this reason, I have taken the groups almost exactly as they stand in the “Histoire des Poissons” of Cuvier and Valenciennes, or in the “Regne Animal” of the former: yet there is reason to believe that many parts of their system will be found hereafter to require some modification, especially in regard to families and genera which have for their distinctive character the presence or absence of vomerine or palatine teeth. The small value which is to be attached to such character is pointed out in some instances in the following work, and much dwelt upon.

In conclusion, it may be stated, that the whole of the species in the collection of fish brought home by Mr. Darwin, described in the following pages, have been deposited by him in the Museum of the Philosophical Society of Cambridge. They are mostly in spirit, and, generally speaking, in a good state of preservation; some few, however, are in the state of skins only, and have been mounted.

L. JENYNS.

_Swaffham Bulbeck,
Jan. 8, 1842._

SYSTEMATIC TABLE OF SPECIES,
WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE HABITATS.

ACANTHOPTERYGII.

PERCIDÆ.
Perca lævis, _Jen._ South Patagonia.
Serranus albo-maculatus, _Jen._ Galapagos Archipelago.
—— Goreensis, _Val._? Cape Verde Islands.
—— aspersus, _Jen._ Ditto.
—— labriformis, _Jen._ Galapagos.
—— olfax, _Jen._ Ditto.
Plectropoma Patachonica, _Jen._ North Patagonia.
Diacope marginata, _Cuv._ Keeling Islands.
Arripis Georgianus King George’s Sound.
Aplodactylus punctatus, _Val._
Dules Auriga, _Cuv. et Val._ Maldonado.
—— Leuciscus, _Jen._ Tahiti.
Helotes octolineatus, _Jen._ King George’s Sound.
Aphritis undulatus, _Jen._ Archipelago of Chiloe.
—— porosus, _Jen._ Central Patagonia.
Pinguipes fasciatus, _Jen._ North Patagonia.
—— Chilensis, _Val._ Valparaiso.
Percophis Brasilianus, _Cuv._ North Patagonia.

MULLIDÆ.
Upeneus flavolineatus, _Cuv. et Val._ Keeling Islands.
—— trifasciatus, _Cuv._ Tahiti.
—— Prayensis, _Cuv. et Val._? Cape Verde Islands.

TRIGLIDÆ.
Trigla Kumu, _Less. et Garn._ New Zealand.
Prionotus punctatus, _Cuv._ Rio de Janeiro.
—— Miles, _Jen._ Galapagos.

COTTIDÆ.
Aspidophorus Chiloensis, _Jen._ Chiloe.
Platycephalus inops, _Jen._ King George’s Sound.

SCORPÆNIDÆ.
Scorpæna Histrio, _Jen._ Galapagos.
Sebastes oculata, _Val._? Valparaiso.
Agriopus hispidus, _Jen._ Archipelago of Chiloe.
Apistus ——? King George’s Sound.

SCLÆNIDÆ.
Otolithus Guatucupa, _Cuv. et Val._ Maldonado.
—— analis, _Jen._ Coast of Peru.
Corvina adusta, _Agass._ Maldonado.
Umbrina arenata, _Cuv. et Val._ North Patagonia.
—— ophicephala, _Jen._ Coquimbo.
Prionodes fasciatus, _Jen._ Galapagos.
Pristipoma cantharinum, _Jen._ Ditto.
Latilus jugularis, _Val._ Valparaiso.
—— princeps, _Jen._ Galapagos.
Heliases Crusma, _Val._ Valparaiso.

SPARIDÆ.
Chrysophrys taurina, _Jen._ Galapagos.

MÆNIDÆ.
Gerres Gula, _Cuv. et Val._? Rio de Janeiro.
—— Oyena, _Cuv. et Val._? Keeling Islands.

CHÆTODONTIDÆ.
Chætodon setifer, _Bl._ Keeling Islands.
Stegastes imbricatus, _Jen._ Cape Verde Islands.

SCOMBRIDÆ.
Paropsis signata, _Jen._ North Patagonia.
Caranx declivis, _Jen._ King George’s Sound.
—— torvus, _Jen._ Tahiti.
Caranx Georgianus, _Cuv. et Val._ King George’s Sound.
Seriola bipinnulata, _Quoy et Gaim._ Keeling Islands.
Psenes ——? South Atlantic Ocean.
Stromateus maculatus, _Cuv. et Val._? Chiloe.

TEUTHYDIDÆ.
Acanthurus triostegus, _Bl. Schn._ Keeling Islands.
—— humeralis, _Cuv. et Val._ Tahiti.

ATHERINIDÆ.
Atherina argentinensis, _Cuv. et Val._? Maldonado.
—— microlepidota, _Jen._ Valparaiso.
—— incisa, _Jen._ North Patagonia.

MUGILIDÆ.
Mugil Liza, _Cuv. et Val._? North Patagonia.
——? Keeling Islands.
Dajaus Diemensis, _Richards_ King George’s Sound.

BLENNIDÆ.
Blennius palmicornis, _Cuv. et Val._ Cape Verde Islands.
Blennechis fasciatus, _Jen._ Concepcion.
—— ornatus, _Jen._ Coquimbo.
Salarias atlanticus, _Cuv. et Val._ Cape Verde Islands.
Salarias quadricornis, _Cuv. et Val._? Keeling Islands
—— vomerinus, _Cuv. et Val._? Cape Verde Islands.
Clinus crinitus, _Jen._ Coquimbo.
Acanthoclinus fuscus, _Jen._ New Zealand.
Tripterygion Capito, _Jen._ New Zealand.
Iluocœtes fimbriatus, _Jen._ Archipelago of Chiloe.
Phucocœtes latitans, _Jen._ Falkland Islands.

GOBIDÆ.
Gobius lineatus, _Jen._ Galapagos.
Gobius ophicephalus, _Jen._ Archipelago of Chiloe.
Eleotris Gobioides, _Val._ New Zealand.

LOPHIDÆ.
Batrachus porosissimus, _Cuv. et Val._? Bahia Blanca.

LABRIDÆ.
Cossyphus Darwini, _Jen._ Galapagos.
Cheilio ramosus, _Jen._ Japan?
Chromis facetus, _Jen._ Maldonado.
Scarus chlorodon, _Jen._ Keeling Islands.
—— globiceps, _Cuv. et Val._ Tahiti.
—— lepidus, _Jen._ Tahiti.
——? Keeling Islands.

MALACOPTERYGII.

SILURIDÆ.
Pimelodus gracilis, _Val._? Rio de Janeiro.
—— exsudans, _Jen._ Ditto.?
Callichthys paleatus, _Jen._

CYPRINIDÆ.
Pœcilia unimaculata, _Val._ Rio de Janeiro.
—— decem-maculata, _Jen._ Maldonado.
Lebias lineata, _Jen._ Ditto.
—— multidentata, _Jen._ Monte Video.
Mesites maculatus, _Jen._ South Patagonia.
—— alpinus, _Jen._ Tierra del Fuego.
—— attenuatus, _Jen._ New Zealand.

ESOCIDÆ
Exocœtus exsiliens, _Bl._? Pacific Ocean.

SALMONIDÆ.
Tetragonopterus Abramis, _Jen._ Rio Parana, S. America.
—— rutilus, _Jen._ Ditto.
—— scabripinnis, _Jen._ Rio de Janeiro.
—— tœniatus, _Jen._ Ditto.
—— interruptus, _Jen._ Maldonado.
Hydrocyon Hepsetus, _Cuv._ Maldonado.
Aplochiton Zebra, _Jen._ Falkland Islands.
—— tæniatus, _Jen._ Tierra del Fuego.

CLUPEIDÆ.
Clupea Fuegensis, _Jen._ Tierra del Fuego.
—— arcuata, _Jen._ Bahia Blanca.
—— sagax, _Jen._ Lima.
Alosa pectinata, _Jen._ North Patagonia.
Engraulis ringens, _Jen._ Coast of Peru.

PLEURONECTIDÆ.
Platessa Orbignyana, _Val._? Bahia Blanca.
—— ——? King George’s Sound.
Hippoglossus Kingii, _Jen._ Valparaiso.
Rhombus ——? Bahia Blanca.
Achirus lineatus, _D’Orb._ Coast of Brazil.
Plagusia ——? Coast of Patagonia.

CYCLOPTERIDÆ.
Gobiesox marmoratus, _Jen._ Archipelago of Chiloe.
—— pœcilophthalmos, _Jen._ Galapagos.

ECHENEIDIDÆ.
Echeneis Remora, _Linn._ Atlantic Ocean.

ANGUILLIDÆ.
Anguilla australis, _Richards._ New Zealand.
Conger punctus, _Jen._ Tierra del Fuego.
Muræma lentiginosa, _Jen._ Galapagos.
—— ocellata, _Agass._ Rio de Janeiro.
——? Cape Verde Islands.
——? Tahiti.

LOPHOBRANCHII.

SYNGNATHIDÆ.
Syngnathus acicularis, _Jen._ Valparaiso.
—— conspicillatus, _Jen._ Tahiti.
—— crinitus, _Jen._ Bahia Blanca.

PLECTOGNATHI.

TETRODONTIDÆ.
Diodon nycthemerus, _Cuv._
—— rivulatus, _Cuv._ Maldonado.
—— antennatus, _Cuv._? Bahia Blanca.
Tetrodon aerostaticus, _Jen._
—— implutus, _Jen._ Keeling Islands.
—— annulatus, _Jen._ Galapagos.
—— angusticeps, _Jen._ Ditto.

BALISTIDÆ.
Balistes Vetula, _Bl._ South Atlantic Ocean.
—— aculeatus, _Bl._ Tahiti.
Aleuteres maculosus, _Richards._ King George’s Sound.
—— velutinus, _Jen._ Ditto.
Ostracion punctatus, _Schn._ Tahiti.

CYCLOSTOMI.

PETHOMYZONIDÆ.
Myxine australis, _Jen._ Tierra del Fuego.

LIST OF PLATES.

Plate I. Perca lævis.
II. Serranus albo-maculatus.
III. —— labriformis.
IV. —— olfax.
V. Pinguipes fasciatus.
VI. Prionotus Miles.
VII. Fig. 1. Aspidophorus Chiloensis. _Twice Nat. size._
„ — 1_a_. Ditto. _Nat. size. Dorsal view._
„ — 1_b_. Ditto. _Ditto. Side view._
„ — 2. Agriopus hispidus. _Twice Nat. size._
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Nat. size._
„ — 2_b_. Ditto. _Portion of the hispid cuticle magnified._
VIII. Scorpæna Histrio.
IX. Fig. 1. Prionodes fasciatus.
„ — 2. Stegastes imbricatus.
X. Pristipoma cantharinum.
XI. Latilus princeps.
XII. Chrysophrys taurina.
XIII. Paropsis signata.
XIV. Caranx declivis.
XV. —— torvus.
XVI. Fig. 1. Atherina microlepidota.
„ — 1_a_. Ditto _Magnified scales._
„ — 1_b_. „
„ — 2. Atherina incisa. _Nat. size._
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Magnified scale._
„ — 2_b_. Ditto. _Twice Nat. size._
XVII. Fig. 1. Blennechis fasciatus.
„ — 1_a_. Ditto. _Teeth magnified._
„ — 2. Blennechis ornatus.
„ — 3. Salarias vomerinus.
XVIII. Fig. 1. Clinus crinitus.
„ — 2. Acanthoclinus fuscus.
XIX. Fig. 1. Tripterygion Capito.
„ — 2. Gobius lineatus.
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Dorsal view._
„ — 3. Gobius ophicephalus.
„ — 3_a_. Ditto. _Dorsal view._
XX. Cossyphus Darwini.
XXI. Scarus chlorodon.
XXII. Fig. 1. Pœcilia decem-maculata. _Twice nat. size._
„ — 1_a_. Ditto. _Nat. size._
„ — 2. Lebias lineata.
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Teeth magnified._
„ — 3. Lebias multidentata.
„ — 3_a_. Ditto. _Teeth magnified._
„ — 4. Mesites maculatus.
„ — 5. —— attenuatus.
XXIII. — 1. Tetragonopterus Abramis.
„ — 1_a_. Ditto. _Mouth magnified, to show form of maxillary._
„ — 2. Tetragonopterus rutilus.
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Mouth magnified._
„ — 3. Tetragonopterus scabripinnis.
„ — 3_a_. Ditto. _Mouth magnified._
„ — 4. Tetragonopterus interruptus.
„ — 4_a_. Ditto. _Mouth magnified._
XXIV. — 1. Aplochiton Zebra.
„ — 1_a_. Ditto. _Magnified view of anal and generative
orifices._
„ — 2. Aplochiton tæniatus.
XXV. Alosa pectinata.
„ _a._ —— _Magnified scale from nape._
XXVI. Hippoglossus Kingii.
XXVII. — 1. Gobiesox marmoratus.
„ — 1_a_. Ditto. _Dorsal view._
„ — _b_. Ditto. _Under side._
„ — 2. Gobiesox pœcilophthalmos.
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Lateral view._
„ — 2_b_. Ditto. _Magnified view of teeth._
„ — 3. Syngnathus acicularis.
„ — 4. —— conspicillatus.
„ — 5. —— crinitus.
XXVIII. Tetrodon angusticeps.
„ _a._ —— _Dorsal view of head._
XXIX. — 1. Aphritis undulatus.
Append.
„ — 2. Iluocœtes fimbriatus.
„ — 2_a_. Ditto. _Magnified view of teeth._
„ — 3. Phucocœtes latitans.
„ — 3_a_. Ditto. _Teeth._

_Fish. Pl. 1._

_W. Hawkins del^t._

_Perca lævis. ¾ Nat. Size_
]

FISH.

ACANTHOPTERYGII.

FAMILY—PERCIDÆ.

PERCA LÆVIS. _Jen._

PLATE I.

_P. nigricanti-fusco undique punctata; vertice, fronte, rostro usque
ad nares, et infraorbitalium parte posteriori, squamatis; squamis,
in capite ciliatis scabris, in corpore sublævibus._

B. 7; D. 9—1/11; A. 3/9; C. 17; P. 15; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 11; lin. 5.

FORM.—Much more elongated than the _common Perch_, with the back less
elevated. Depth, beneath the commencement of the first dorsal, not
quite equalling one-fifth of the entire length. Thickness, in the
region of the pectorals, about two-thirds of the depth. Head not
quite one-fourth of the entire length. Profile falling gently from
the nape in nearly a straight line at an angle of about 45°: at the
nape the dorsal line rises so as to interrupt its continuity with
the slope of the profile, but it is nearly horizontal along the base
of the dorsal fins. The jaws are nearly equal, but when the mouth is
closed, the upper one appears somewhat the longer. A band of
velutine teeth in each jaw, as well as on the vomer and palatines.
Maxillaries when at rest nearly concealed beneath the suborbital
bones: these last with their lower margin distinctly denticulated;
their surface presenting several small hollows. Eyes rather above
the middle of the cheeks, and about equidistant from the extremity
of the snout and the posterior margin of the preopercle; their
diameter is one-sixth of the length of the head; the distance from
one to the other equals one diameter and a half. Nostrils double, a
little in advance of the eyes; the first orifice oval, the second
round. Preopercle rectangular, with the angle rounded; the ascending
margin finely denticulated, the teeth almost disappearing at the
top; towards the angle the teeth become stronger and point
downwards; they are also stronger and more scattered along the basal
margin, inclining here a little forwards. Opercle with two flat
sharp points, one a little below the upper angle, the other about
the middle and terminating the gill-cover. Both the subopercle and
interopercle have their margins obscurely denticulated: the margin
of the former is rather sinuous, and passes obliquely forwards and
downwards to form a continuous curve with that of the latter. Crown,
forehead, upper part of the snout as far as the connecting line of
the nostrils, posterior half of the suborbitals, cheeks, and all the
pieces of the gill-cover, excepting the lower limb of the
preopercle, covered with small scales, which are in most instances
ciliated with a varying number of denticles, and feel rough to the
touch: the extremity of the snout, anterior portion of the
suborbitals, maxillaries, and lower jaw are naked. Above each orbit
is a small semicircular granulated plate, with the granulations
disposed in striæ. The suprascapulars terminate in an obtuse
projecting point. The humeral bone forms a large osseous triangular
plate above the pectorals, the salient angle terminating in three
small teeth. Course of the lateral line a little above one-third of
the depth till it arrives beneath the second dorsal, where it bends
down to half the depth. Scales on the body larger than those on the
head, of an oblong form, rounded at their free edges, which are
scarcely at all ciliated, and for the most part quite smooth to the
touch; their concealed portion not wider than the free, with a fan
of fourteen striæ; the rest of their surface more finely striated.
The first dorsal commences a little beyond a vertical line from the
termination of the humeral plate, and is almost continuous with the
second, being only separated by a deep notch; the space occupied by
the two dorsals together is exactly one-third of the entire length:
spines strong; the first scarcely more than one-third the length of
the second, which is very little shorter than the third; this last
longest, equalling rather more than half the depth; rest of the
spines gradually decreasing to the last, which is of the same length
as the first. The second dorsal commences with a slender spine, not
half the length of the first soft ray, which last is simple, the
others being branched; third and fourth soft rays longest; the
succeeding ones slowly decreasing to the last, which is rather more
than half the longest. Anal preceded by three spines, the first of
which is very short; second much longer and very stout; third of
about the same length as the second, but much slenderer; the first
and second separated by a wide membrane from the third, which is
closely united to the first soft ray; these last longer than those
of the second dorsal, but in other respects similar. The anal and
second dorsal terminate in the same vertical line; and the last ray
is double in both fins. Between them and the caudal is a space
equalling one-fifth of the entire length. The caudal is slightly
notched. The pectorals are rather pointed, their length equalling
two-thirds that of the head. Ventrals immediately beneath them, and
of about the same length; the first soft ray longest, and more than
twice the length of the spine which precedes it.

COLOUR.—In spirits this fish appears yellowish brown, deepening on the
back but becoming paler on the belly, and covered all over with
small dusky spots, one occupying the base of each scale.

Habitat, Santa Cruz River, Patagonia.

_Fish Pl. 2._

_Drawn from Nature on stone by Waterhouse Hawkins._

_Serranus albo-maculatus, ½ Nat. Size._
]

No true perch had been obtained from South America until M. D’Orbigny discovered one in the Rio-Negro, in North Patagonia, which has been since described by Valenciennes, under the name of _P. trucha_.[1] The present species was found dead by Mr. Darwin, high up the river of Santa Cruz, in South Patagonia. It is evidently very closely allied to the _P. trucha_, and is spotted in a similar manner; but it appears to differ in the scales not advancing on the snout beyond the nostrils, or covering more than the posterior half of the suborbitals. Those on the body are also particularly characterized by being so smooth, as hardly to communicate any sensation of roughness when the hand is passed from the tail towards the head, though the head itself is rough. This circumstance has suggested the specific name. This species further disagrees with the one above alluded to in having the caudal slightly forked, not rounded; and in having two soft rays less in the second dorsal, and one less in the anal. Valenciennes’s description, however, of the _P. trucha_ is very brief; on which account I have been the more minute in that of the _P. lævis_.

This perch, with _P. trucha_, would almost seem to form a subordinate division in the genus, distinguished from that embracing all the other described species, by the character of the scales covering a large portion of the head which gives it a remarkable sciænoid appearance. Both species may be known from all the North American perches, by their having the body spotted instead of banded, and by the smaller number of rays in the first dorsal. In this last character they agree with the _P. ciliata_, and _P. marginata_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes.

1. SERRANUS ALBO-MACULATUS. _Jen._

PLATE II.

_S. lateribus maculis albis serie longitudinali dispositis; dentibus
velutinis; paucis, hic et illic sparsis, fortioribus,
aculeiformibus, vel subconicis; preoperculo margine adscendenti
convexiusculo, denticulato; denticulis ad et infrà angulum paulò
majoribus; operculo mucronibus duobus parvis, et spinâ intermediâ
forti, armato; rostro et maxillis nudis; squamis corporis leviter
ciliatis; pinnâ caudali æquali._

B. 7; D. 10/13; A. 3/7; C. 17, &c.—P. 17; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 16; lin. 9.

FORM.—Of an oblong-oval form, with the greatest depth about one-fourth
of the entire length. The dorsal and ventral lines are of nearly
equal curvature. The profile is nearly rectilineal, falling very
gradually from the commencement of the dorsal to the end of the
snout, without any elevation at the nape. The head is one-third of
the entire length. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper. The
maxillary, which is broad, and cut quite square at its extremity,
reaches to beneath the middle of the orbit. The suborbital has the
margin entire and nearly straight. The upper jaw has a band of
velutine teeth, broadish in front, but narrowing (the teeth at the
same time becoming smaller and finer) posteriorly; with an outer row
of not much longer, but considerably stronger, subconic teeth,
placed at rather wide intervals; besides these, there are three or
four teeth on each side of the anterior portion of the jaw, equally
strong as those last mentioned, but more curved, the points
reclining backwards, and set within the velutine band. In the lower
jaw, there is the same band as above, but narrower, and with the
teeth more in fine card than velutine, with stronger ones
anteriorly, and along the posterior half of each side, where there
are six or eight, standing nearly in a single row, very stout and
curved, though scarcely longer than the others; outside the band,
and on each side of the symphysis, there are three or four
moderately strong subconic teeth, at short distances from each
other, which may be considered as small canines. On the vomer and
palatines, the teeth are velutine. The eyes are rather large, and
placed high in the cheeks; their diameter is about one-sixth the
length of the head: the distance between them equals one diameter
and a quarter. The nostrils consist of two orifices, placed one
before the other, a little in advance of the eyes, roundish-oval,
the posterior one largest. The preopercle has the ascending margin
not quite rectilineal, being slightly convex, and the angle at
bottom rounded; the denticulations on the former are fine, but very
perceptible; they become rather stronger and more distant at the
angle, and a few of this character are continued along the posterior
half of the basal margin. The opercle is armed with three points;
the upper one is triangular, small, and not very obvious; the middle
one is a moderately strong spine, about a quarter of an inch in
length; the third is a little below this last, and resembles it in
form, but is much smaller. The membrane of the opercle terminates in
a sharp angle, and is produced considerably beyond the middle spine.
The line of separation between the opercle and subopercle is not
visible. The gill-opening is large, and has seven rays. There are no
scales on the snout or jaws, or between the eyes, or on the anterior
portion of the suborbital; but they are present on the cranium
behind the eyes, cheeks, (where they are numerous), and pieces of
the gill-cover; the limb of the preopercle, and the lower margin of
the interopercle, however, are nearly free from them. Those on the
opercle are larger than those on the cheeks. All these scales, as
well as those on the body, are finely ciliated, communicating a
slight roughness to the touch. The suprascapular is represented by a
larger and harder scale than the rest, of a semi-elliptic form,
striated on its surface, and obsoletely denticulated on the margin.
The lateral line is parallel to the back, at between one-third and
one-fourth of the depth. The pectorals are attached below the
middle, of a rounded form, the middle rays being longest, and about
half the length of the head. The dorsal commences exactly above
them, and occupies a space equalling half the entire length,
excluding the caudal. The spines are sharp, and moderately strong:
the first is rather more than half the length of the second, but
scarcely more than one-fifth of the length of the third, which is
longest, equalling more than half the depth of the body: from the
third they decrease very gradually to the ninth, which is of the
same length as the second; the tenth is again a little higher; this
is followed by the soft rays, which are nearly even, and about
one-third higher than the last spine; the last two or three,
however, are a little shorter than the others. The anal commences in
a line with the fifth soft ray of the dorsal, and ends a little
before that fin: the second spine is strongest, and twice the length
of the first: the soft rays are longer than those of the dorsal.
There are a few minute scales between the soft rays of both dorsal
and anal, to about one quarter of their height. The caudal is even,
but may possibly have been worn so by use. The ventrals are directly
under the pectorals, a little shorter than them, and pointed.

COLOUR.—“Varies much. Above pale blackish-green; belly white; fins,
gill-covers, and part of the sides, dirty reddish orange: on the
side of the back, six or seven good-sized snow white spots, with not
a very regular outline.—In some specimens, the blackish-green above
becomes dark, and is separated by a straight line from the paler
under parts.—Again, other specimens are coloured dirty ‘reddish
orange,’ and ‘gallstone yellow,’[2] the upper parts only rather
darker. But in all, the white spots are clear; five or six in one
row, and one placed above. Sometimes the fins are banded
longitudinally with orange and black-green.”—D.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.

This species, which is undoubtedly new, was obtained by Mr. Darwin at Charles Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago. As many specimens were seen, it is probably not uncommon there. It appears to be a _Serranus_, but its canines, if they can be so called, are very small and inconspicuous. Its naked jaws require it to be placed in Cuvier’s first section of that genus, though much larger than most of the species contained in it, and rather differing from them in general form. In some of its characters, it would seem to make a near approach to _Centropristes_, between which and _Serranus_, there is undoubtedly a very close affinity.

2. SERRANUS GOREENSIS. _Val._?

Serranus Goreensis, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. vi. p. 384.

FORM.—The general form approaching very closely that of the _S.
Gigas_. Greatest depth one-fourth of the entire length. Head rather
less than one-third of the same. The diameter of the eye is
one-fifth of the length of the head; and the distance from the eye
to the extremity of the snout is about one diameter and a quarter.
The lower jaw is covered with small scales, but not the maxillary.
The nostrils consist of two round apertures, the anterior one rather
larger than the posterior, and covered by a membranous flap. The
teeth in the upper jaw form a velutine band, with the outer row in
fine card, and two stronger and longer ones near the middle of the
jaw on each side: below there is a narrow band of fine card, with
stronger ones situated as above. The denticulations at the angle of
the preopercle are well developed, especially two teeth which are
much stronger than any on the ascending margin. The opercle has
three flat spines, the middle one longest and projecting further
than the others; but the terminating angle of the membrane projects
beyond this spine to a distance equalling the length of the spine
itself. The dorsal has the fourth spine longest, and equalling just
half the entire length of the spinous portion of the fin. Both the
spinous and soft portions have minute scales between the rays,
covering rather more than the basal half of the fin; they rise
highest just at the commencement of the soft portion. The caudal is
square at the extremity, or with rather more tendency to notched
than rounded; the basal half scaly. The anal commences in a line
with the third soft ray of the dorsal, and has the basal half of the
soft portion finely scaled: the second spine is strongest, but the
third somewhat the longest. The pectorals are rounded, with the
seventh and eighth rays longest; finely scaled on the upper side for
one-fourth of their length from the base, but without any scales
beneath. The ventrals are a little shorter than the pectorals, with
a spine of about the same length and stoutness as the third anal
spine, and rather more than equalling half the length of the soft
rays: they are obsoletely scaled on the upper side between the rays.

D. 11/16; A. 3/8; C. 15, &c.—P. 17; V. 1/5.
Length 7 inches.

COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Of a nearly uniform bister brown, stained and
mottled here and there, particularly on the sides below the lateral
line, with patches of a much paler tint.

Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands.

The Serran above described, was procured by Mr. Darwin at Porto Praya. I am not sure that I am right in referring it to the _S. Goreensis_ of Valenciennes, as in so extensive a genus, and one in which the species are so extremely similar, it is very difficult to identify any one in particular, without the opportunity of comparing it with a large number. But it seems to agree with that species better than with any other I can find noticed by authors; and the island of Goree is sufficiently near the Cape Verde Islands, to render it probable that the same species may occur in both localities. It has the same square tail, which, according to Valenciennes, so particularly characterizes the _S. Goreensis_; but it has one soft ray more in the dorsal. I see no appearance of the deep violet said to border the dorsal and anal fins, but possibly it may have been effaced by the action of the spirit.

3. SERRANUS ASPERSUS. _Jen._

_S. suprà viridi-niger, subtùs pallidior; lateribus smaragdino pallido
aspersis; pinnis anali, caudali, dorsalique posticè, apicibus
croceis; dentibus velutinis, caninis in maxillâ superiore utrinque
apicem versus duobus sub-fortibus; preoperculo margine prope recto
denticulato; denticulis ad angulum paulò majoribus; operculo
mucronibus tribus planis, intermedio maximo; rostro toto, et maxillâ
inferiore, squamatis._

B. 7; D. 11/15; A. 3/8; C. 17, &c.; P. 17; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 4¼.

FORM.—Back very little elevated; the greatest depth rather less than
one-fourth of the entire length. Nape slightly depressed, with which
exception, the dorsal line from the commencement of the dorsal fin
to the crown of the head, is nearly horizontal: from between the
eyes to the end of the snout, the profile is considerably convex.
Head rather more than one-third of the entire length. Eyes large,
their diameter about one-fourth the length of the head, high in the
cheeks, and distant rather less than a diameter from the end of the
snout. Lower jaw longer than the upper. The teeth above consist of a
narrow velutine band, with a few, a little behind the anterior
extremity, longer than the others, but slender and curving
backwards; in front, and on each side of the extremity are two
moderate canines: beneath there is a narrow band of velutine and
fine card mixed, but no canines. The lower jaw, and the snout quite
to the extremity, as well as the suborbitals, are covered with
minute scales, but not the maxillary. The preopercle has the
ascending margin nearly rectilineal, and finely denticulated; the
angle at bottom rather sharp, and the denticles at this part, as
well as immediately above it, rather more developed than the others.
Opercle with three flat points; the upper and lower ones equal, the
middle one larger, but not projecting so far as the membrane. Dorsal
spines invested with membranous tags at their tips; of nearly equal
lengths, with the exception of the first two; the third and fourth a
little the longest: the soft portion of the fin higher than the
spinous. Anal rounded, terminating sooner than the dorsal; the
second spine a trifle longer than the third, as well as stouter. The
caudal is injured, but appears to have been square, or perhaps
slightly rounded. Rows of minute scales between the rays of all the
vertical fins.

COLOUR.—“Dark greenish, black above, beneath lighter; sides marked
with light emerald green: tips of the anal, caudal, and hinder part
of the dorsal, saffron yellow; tips of the pectorals orpiment
orange.”—D. These colours have been much altered by the action of
the spirit. The general ground is now dusky lead, mottled and
sprinkled on the sides with dirty white. There is an appearance of
four oblong black spots on the upper part of the back beneath the
base of the dorsal, not noticed by Mr. Darwin. The tips of the fins
have entirely lost their bright colours.

Habitat, Porto Praya, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands.

This species was also obtained at Porto Praya, off Quail Island. It belongs to that division of the genus which Cuvier has distinguished by the name of _Mérou_, and to his section of _Mérous piquetés_; but it will not accord with any of those described in the “Histoire des Poissons.” There is only one specimen of it in the collection, which is small, and probably not full-sized.

4. SERRANUS LABRIFORMIS. _Jen._
PLATE III.

_S. fusco-flavo, nigro, alboque variatus; dorsali rubro-marginatâ;
spinis fortibus, subæqualibus, ad apices laciniis membranaceis
investitis; dentibus aculeiformibus,[3] valdè retroflexis, seriebus
internis majoribus; caninis, in maxillâ superiore duobus, in
inferiore quatuor, mediocribus; preoperculo margine arcuato, vix
denticulato; operculo mucrone unico plano, modico, armato; squamis
infra lineam lateralem ciliatis, supra et in ventre lævibus._

B. 7; D. 11/17; A. 3/8; C. 15, &c.; P. 18; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 17.

FORM.—Oblong-oval, with very much the aspect of a _Labrus_. The
greatest depth, which is beneath the commencement of the dorsal, is
rather less than one-fourth of the entire length. The head is large,
and nearly one-third of the same. The profile, from the dorsal to
the end of the snout, curves gradually downwards in one continuous
bend. The lower jaw projects a little beyond the upper. The teeth
form a broadish band of fine card in both jaws, with the inner rows
longer and more curved than the outer; in the upper jaw, a little
behind the anterior extremity, are three or four longer than the
others, and curving so much backwards as almost to be laid flat; at
the posterior part of this jaw on each side they pass into velutine.
The canines are strong, but not very long; in number two above and
four below, not exactly in front, but a little on each side of the
middle. The teeth on the vomer and palatines are velutine. The eyes
are moderately large, high in the cheeks, equidistant from the upper
angle of the preopercle and the end of the snout, with a diameter
rather less than one-sixth the length of the head: the distance
between them about equals their diameter. The margin of the
suborbital is entire, but a little sinuous. The maxillary is large,
and cut nearly square at its posterior extremity: it is nearly all
exposed, and reaches to beneath the posterior part of the orbit. The
nostrils are a little in advance of the eyes, and consist of two
round openings, one before the other, the posterior one being the
largest. The whole head, including the lower jaw, is covered with
small scales, which become more minute towards the extremity of the
snout, but are very visible even there: there are none, however,
apparent on the maxillary. The preopercle has the basal angle
rounded, and the ascending margin a little convex outwards, and
denticulated, but the denticles are minute and not very obvious. The
opercle and subopercle together (the line of separation between
which is scarcely apparent) form a triangle. The former terminates
posteriorly in one flat spine, moderately developed, not reaching to
the extremity of the membranous angle by twice its own length. The
lateral line, which is rather indistinct, is nearly parallel to the
back at a little below one-fourth of the depth. The scales on the
body below the lateral line are rough, but those above it, as well
as those on the belly, nearly smooth: one taken from the middle of
the side is of an oblong form, rounded at the free extremity, which
is finely dotted and ciliated; its whole surface finely striated,
with nine or ten deeper striæ at the base. The pectorals are
attached low down, rounded at the extremity, and about half the
length of the head. The dorsal commences immediately above them, and
is tolerably even throughout its course, extending nearly to the
caudal. The membrane is rather deeply notched between the spines,
which are very stout and invested at their tips with membranaceous
tags, as in the _Labridæ_. The first spine is only half the length
of the second and third; the fourth is a little the longest,
equalling two-fifths of the depth of the body; the fifth and
succeeding ones decrease very gradually to the tenth, which is
rather more than half the length of the fourth; the eleventh is a
little longer, and is followed by the soft rays, the longest of
which is about equal to the longest of the spinous. The anal
commences about in a line with the second soft ray in the dorsal,
and terminates before that fin, leaving double the distance between
it and the caudal; first spine not half the length of the second and
third, which are about equal, and much stouter; soft portion of the
fin of a rounded form, with the middle rays nearly double the length
of the second and third spines. Caudal even, or very slightly
rounded, without any rows of scales between the rays. Ventrals a
little shorter than the pectorals, immediately beneath them,
pointed.

_Fish. Pl. 3._

_Drawn from Nature on stone by Waterhouse Hawkins._

_Serranus labriformis. ½ Nat. Size._
]

_Fish Pl. 4._

_W. Hawkins del._

_Serranus olfax. ½ Nat. Size._
]

COLOUR.—“Mottled with brown-yellow, black and white: upper and lower
edges of the caudal, edges of the dorsal and anal, ‘arterial’ and
purplish red.”—D.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.

Obtained off Chatham Island in the Galapagos Archipelago. There can be little doubt of its being an undescribed species, well characterized by its _labriform_ appearance, as regards the fins, rounded and nearly entire margin of the preopercle, and scales smooth _above_, but rough _beneath_ the lateral line.

5. SERRANUS OLFAX. _Jen._
PLATE IV.

_S. fusco-variatus; spinis dorsalibus ad apices laciniis investitis;
naribus orbiculatis, aperturâ unica magnâ, duas minores includenti;
dentibus aculeiformibus, retroflexis, seriebus paucis; caninis, in
maxillâ superiore duobus, in inferiore quatuor, cæteris vix
fortioribus; preoperculo margine adscendenti prope recto, angulum
versus paulum sinuato, vix denticulato; operculo mucronibus duobus,
parvis, subæqualibus, armato; squamis ubique lævibus._

B. 7; D. 11/18; A. 3/11; C. 17, &c.; P. 17; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 23½.

FORM.—Rather elongated, with the dorsal and ventral lines equally
curved, and neither departing much from a straight line. Depth, in
the region of the pectorals, equalling rather more than one-fifth of
the entire length. Head contained three and a half times in the
same. Profile sloping gradually from the commencement of the dorsal
to the end of the snout in one continuous very gentle curve. The
lower jaw a little the longest. The teeth are in strong card in both
jaws, their points curving inwards and backwards: those above
longest anteriorly, where they form about three rows; posteriorly
they become velutine, as in the last species, and consist of not
more than two rows: in the lower jaw the teeth are equally large at
the sides as in front, and, excepting quite at the anterior
extremity, in only two rows, the inner of which is stronger than the
outer. The canines are small, and scarcely stronger than the other
teeth; in number[4] and situation, the same as in the _S.
labriformis_. The vomerine and palatine teeth are very fine
velutine. Eyes rather large, and high in the cheeks, equidistant
from the upper angle of the preopercle and the intermaxillary, with
a diameter about one-seventh the length of the head: the distance
between them equals one diameter and one-third. The margin of the
suborbital is entire, and nearly straight. The maxillary, when the
mouth is closed, reaches to beneath the middle of the orbit. The
nostrils are a little in advance of the eyes, and consist of one
large, nearly circular, aperture, enclosing two smaller ones, which
are also circular and placed equally in advance. The crown, and
space between the eyes, and entire cheeks, are covered with small
scales; there are also some minute ones on the lower jaw, and on the
extremity of the snout before the eyes; but they are scarcely
obvious, if present, on the first suborbital, and not at all
perceptible on the maxillary. The preopercle is rather more than
rectangular; the basal margin nearly straight and horizontal; the
angle rather sharp; the ascending margin with a slight sinuosity
just above the angle, afterwards straight and nearly vertical, very
obsoletely denticulated throughout its course. The osseous portion
of the opercle terminates posteriorly in two flat points, nearly
equal, but the lower one rather the more developed, between which it
is emarginate. The angle of the membrane is considerably produced
beyond the lower point. The line of separation between the opercle
and subopercle is tolerably obvious. Gill-opening large. All the
pieces of the gill-cover are covered with scales scarcely smaller
than those on the body. The scales on the body are not large, of an
oblong form, with their free edges scarcely at all ciliated, not
enough to feel rough to the touch; their whole surface very finely
striated, with twelve deeper striæ on the basal half, and the basal
margin crenated. Lateral line not very conspicuous, parallel to the
back at about one-fourth of the depth. The dorsal commences in a
line with the posterior angle of the opercle, and occupies a space
equalling half the entire length, caudal excluded: spines strong,
and tagged at their extremities; the second longest, equalling not
quite half the depth; third and succeeding ones gradually decreasing
to the tenth, which is about half the length of the second; the
eleventh again longer; then follow the soft rays, which are nearly
even, but all higher than the last spinous. The anal commences in a
line with the third soft ray in the dorsal, and terminates a little
before that fin: first spine very short; the third longest, but the
second stoutest: of the soft rays the third and fourth are longest,
and nearly twice the length of the third spine, being longer than
the soft rays in the dorsal; from the fourth they gradually
decrease, giving this portion of the fin a rounded form. The caudal
is nearly even, but the central rays are a little shorter than the
outer ones. There are no rows of scales between the soft rays of the
dorsal and anal, and scarcely any trace of them between those of the
caudal. The pectorals are rounded, attached low down, and about half
the length of the head. Ventrals directly beneath them, shorter, and
more pointed.

COLOUR.—“Mottled brown.”—D. The dried skin appears nearly of a uniform
brown, simply a little paler beneath. There is some indication of a
whitish band along the base of the anal and soft dorsal, which may
be the remains of a brighter colour. The base of the pectorals and
ventrals is also paler than the extremity of those fins.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.