fit'th 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 jaw s,
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 a t 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 te e th ; in num ber* 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 o f the head :
the distance between them equals one diameter and one-third. The m argin 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
lai-ge, 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 a t all perceptible on the maxillary. The preopercle is rather more than rectangular; the
basal margin nearly straight and horizontal; tlie angle rather sharp ; the ascending margin
with a slight sinuosity ju st 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
edo-es scarcely at all ciliated, not enough to feel rough to the to u ch ; their whole surface very
finely striated, with twelve deeper stri® on the basal half, and the basal m argin 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 h alf the d ep th ; 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
th a t fin : first spine very sh o rt; the third longest, but the second sto u test: 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
* Tliere are actually only three below in this specimen, b u t there is little doubt of four being the norm al
num ber, one appearing to have been lost.
scarcely any trace of them between those of the caudal. The pectorals are rounded, attached
low down, and about h alf the length of the head. Ventrals directly beneath them, shorter,
and more pointed.
C o l o u r .— “ 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.
H abitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
This species was also obtained at Chatham Island, in the Galapagos, where
Mr. Darwin states that it is common. In some of its characters it approaches the
S. labriformis, but in others it is essentially different. It rather departs from most
of the Serraxii in the teeth, and in the small development of the canines. The
nostrils also are rather peculiar. Perhaps it may one day be found to constitute
the type of a distinct genus.
P l e c t r o p o m a P a t a c h o m c a . Jen.
P . operculo spinis tribus, intermediá maxima ; preoperculo margine adscendenti den-
liculato ; ad angulum dente unico, et ad marginem basalem dentibus duobus, forti-
bus ; pinna dorsali spinis quartá et quintá longissimis ; pectoralibus radiorum apicibus
e membrand paulo exeuntibus ; caudali leviier rotundatd.
B. 7; D. 13/15 vel 16 ; A. 3/8 vel 9; C. 1 7|; P . 17; V. 1/5.
L o n g . u n c . 15.
F orm.— G reatest depth about one-third of the entire length, excluding caudal. Head rather
exceeding one-third. Profile descending obliquely in nearly a straight line from tlie commencement
o f the dorsal to the end of the snout. Eyes large, high in the c h eek s; their
diameter nearly one-fourth of the length of the head. The lower jaw a little the lon gest: both
it and the maxillary without scales. A band of velutine teeth in each jaw ; the outer row in
card, with some, stronger than the others, which may be considered canines: above, the principal
canines are about six in number on each side near the extrem ity; below, there are three
or four larger than the others similarly situated. The preopercle has the ascending margin distinctly
denticulated ; on the basal margin are two strong teeth directed forwards, and a third
a t the angle. The opercle has three strong flattened spines; the middle one most developed.
A t the lower angle of the subopercle is a small flat moderately sharp point. F ourth and fifth
dorsal spines lon gest; the succeeding ones gradually diminishing to h alf the height of the soft
portion of the fin which follows. Second anal spine very stout. Pectorals with tlie tips of the
rays sliglitly projecting beyond the membrane, giving it a festooned appearance. Caudal
slightly rounded.