the spine itself. The dorsal has the fourth spine longest, and equalling ju st 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 tlie fin ; they rise highest ju st at
the commencement of the soft portion. The caudal is square a t 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. 11,10; A. 3,8; C. 15, &c.—P. 17; V. 1/5.
Length 7 inches.
C o l o u r .—{In spirits.) O f 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.
H abitat, 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. B ut 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. S e r r a n u s a s p e r s u s . Jen.
S. suprà viridi-niger, suhtùs pallidior ; lateribus smaragdino pallido aspersis; pinnis
anali, catidali, dorsalique posticè, apicibus croceis ; dentibus velutinis, caniriis in
maxillà superiore utrinque versus apicem duobus suh-fortibus ; preoperculo margine
prope recto denticulato ; denticulis ad angulum paulb majoribus ; operculo mucroŸiibus
tribus planis, intermedio máximo ; rostro loto, el maxillá inferiore, squamatis.
B. 7; D. 11/15; A. 3/8; C. 17, &c.; P. 17; V. 1/5.
L o n g . u n e . 4 L
F o rm .— 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 o f 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 tlie 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 backw ards; 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 m argin 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 tw o; 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 o f all the vertical fins.
C o l o u r .— “ D ark greenish, black above, beneath lighter; sides marked with liglit 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 o f 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 Blérous 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.