2 . P i n g u i p e s C h i l e n s i s . V a l
Pinguipes Cliilensis, Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. tom. ix. p. 338.
F orm .— More slender and elongated than the last species. D epth nearly six and a h alf times in
the entire length. Head four^times and a quarter in the same. Eyes high, a little before the
middle, or with the distance in front to the end of the snout not equalling th a t behind
measured to the posterior part of the opercle; their diameter nearly six times in the length of
the h e a d ; the interval between them nearly two diameters. W hen the mouth is closed, a
vertical from the posterior part of the maxillary forms a tangent to tlie anterior p art of the
orbit. Lips not so thick and fleshy as in the P . fa scia tu s; but the teeth almost exactly similar.
Tongue much larger, occupying nearly the entire platform of the mouth. B ranchial membrane
much more deeply notched, the notch reaching as far as the anterior extremity of the interoper-
cle. Preopercle with the ascending margin nearly vertical. Opercle with two small flat spines,
the lower one rather more developed then the upper. Scales and lateral line as in the P .
fasciatus. Pectorals similar. V entrals attached entirely in front of the pectorals, though not
much in advance ; fleshy, but-perhaps rather less so than in the P . fasciatus : in neither species
do they pass beyond the pectorals, or indeed reach quite so far. The other fins exactly similar.
The dorsal, however, has one spine less, and one soft ray more. The anal, also, has one soft
ray more.
B. 6 ; D. 6/28; A. 1,25; C. 17, &c. ; P . 19; V. L5.
Length 11 inches.
C o lo u r.— {In spirits.) B ack and sides deep brown, with the exception of two rows of pale spots
along the sides, very faint and ill-defined. Underneath altogether paler. The dorsal and anal
appear to have been bluish, with the basal portion of each fin pale, but without any edging of
white above. Inside of the ventrals blue ; pectorals the same, but paler. The caudal shows
some trace of a dark round spot on the base of the upper lobe. Mr. Darw in’s notes, with respect
to the colour in the living fish, only state “ fins d ark .”
Habitat, Valparaiso, Chile.
This species, which was procured by Mr. Darwin at Valparaiso, is probably
the same as the P . Chilensis of Valenciennes, obtained by M. Gay on the same
coast. B ut the description in the “ Histoire des Poissons” is brief, and notices
very little besides the colours, which accord tolerably well. Mention, however,
is made of a second spine in the anal fin, which certainly does not exist in the
above specimen, though a very careful examination was made in search of it.
There is also one soft ray more in this fin, as well as in the dorsal, in the fin-ray
formula in that work.
This species is very distinct from the P . fasciatus last described, and does
FISH. 23
not show so strong a resemblance to the Lahridce; but it approaches very closely,
the P . Brasilianus.
P e r c o p h i s B r a s i l i a n u s . C u v .
Percophis B rasilianus, Cuv. et Val. H ist, des Poiss. tom . iii. p. 209. pi. 64.
--------------- Brasilieiisis, F reycinet, (V oyage) Zoologie, p. 351, pi. 53. fig. I.
F o rm .—D epth and breadth in the region of the pectorals about equal, each being contained ten and
a half, or nearly eleven times in the entire length. Head not quite four and a half times
in the same. In the upper jaw , three strong, curved, sharp-pointed canine teeth on each side;
besides a velutine band extending the whole way, with the outer row longer and more developed
than the others : in the lower jaw a velutine band, with long sharp canines, similar to those
above, arising am ongst them at nearly regular intervals, to the number of ten or eleven on each
side ; none exactly in front, and not all of the same size, but passing here and there into card.
Membranous m argin o f the preopercle very finely, almost obsoletely denticulated. B ranchial
membrane with seven rays, the seventh being not much smaller than the sixth.* The whole
head covered with scales, including the lower jaw , and the upper h alf of the maxillar5% Lateral
line nearly straight, a little above the middle. First dorsal commencing at about one-third of
the entire length, excluding caudal ; of a triangular form, with its length a little exceeding its
height; second spine longest, about equalling the depth of the body. Distance between the
two dorsals equalling half the length of the first. Second dorsal with the first ray longest,
equalling the longest of the spines in the first dorsal ; second and succeeding rays slightly
decreasing to the sixth, beyond which they are nearly even, with the exception o f the last three
or four, which are shorter ; all these rays very much branched, with the intervening membrane
deeply notched. Anal commencing a little before the end of the first dorsal, and terminating
nearly in a line with, but in strictnessa very little beyond, the second dorsal ; rays and membrane
much as in that fin, to whicli it answers in general height. Distance between the second dorsal
and caudal, only one-twenty-eighth of the entire length. C audal appears obliquely square, the
upper rays being slightly longer than the lower, but perhaps worn so. P ectorals one-eighth of
the entire length. Ventrals about three-fourths of their length, attached in front of them, as
described by Cuvier. In the axill® of the pectorals is a falcated membranaceous appendage
covered with scales (not noticed by Cuvier), a very little less than one-fourth the length of the
fins themselves.
B. 7; D. 10—32; A. 41 ; C. 15. &c. ; P . 18; V. 1/5.
Length 21 inches.
C o l o u r .— “ Above pale, regularly and symmetrically marked with brownish red, the tip of each scale
being so coloured. B eneath silvery white. Sides with a faint coppery tinge. V entral fins
yellowish. Pupil of the eye intense black.”— D.
* C uvicr in his description, says, of the sevonth ray, “ fort potit,” b u t it is very obvious in this specimen, and
scarcely snmllcr than the sixth, as above stated.