falling very gradually from the commencement o f 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 m argin 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 a t 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 oth ers; outside the band, and on each side of the symphysis, there are
tliree 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 a t bottom rounded; the denticulations on the former are fine,
but very perceptible ; they become rather stronger and more distant a t the angle, and a few of
this character are continued along the posterior h alf 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 len g th ; 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 jaw s, 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 interoperele, 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 supra-scapular 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 h alf 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 stron g : 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 h alf 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 o f 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 m ay possibly have been
worn so by use. The ventrals are directly under the pectorals, a little shorter than them,
and pointed.
C o l o u r .— “ Varies much. Above pale blackish-green ; belly w hite; fins, giil-covers, and part of
the sides, dirty reddish orange: on the side o f 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,’* the upper parts only rather darker.
B ut in all, the wliite 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 Serrâmes, 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. Ill some of its characters, it would seem to make a near approach to Cen-
Iropristes, between which and Serranus, there is undoubtedly a very close affinity.
2 . S e r r a n u s G o r e e n s is . Val.?
Serranus Goreensis, Cue. et Val. Hist. desPoiss. tom. vi. p. 384..
F o rm .—The general form approaching very closely that of the S. Giyas. G reatest 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 tlie distance from the eye to the extremity
of the snout is about one diameter and a quarter. Tlie lower jaw is covered with small scales,
b ut not the maxillary. Tire 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 o th ers; but the term inating
angle of the membrane projects beyond this spine to a distance equalling the length of
t In tins and in all other cases, Mr. Darwin has used Wemer's Nomenclature of Colours, by Patrick Syme.