Chapter II: Part 2

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 _Serrani_ 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.

PLECTROPOMA PATACHONICA. _Jen._

P. operculo spinis tribus, intermediâ maximâ; preoperculo margine
adscendenti denticulato; ad angulum dente unico, et ad marginem
basalem dentibus duobus, fortibus; pinnâ dorsali spinis quartâ et
quintâ longissimis; pectoralibus radiorum apicibus e membranâ paulo
exeuntibus; caudali leviter rotundatâ.

B. 7; D. 13/15 vel 16; A. 3/8 vel 9; C. 172/2; P. 17; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 15.

FORM.—Greatest depth about one-third of the entire length, excluding
caudal. Head rather exceeding one-third. Profile descending
obliquely in nearly a straight line from the commencement of the
dorsal to the end of the snout. Eyes large, high in the cheeks;
their diameter nearly one-fourth of the length of the head. The
lower jaw a little the longest: 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 extremity; 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 at the angle. The opercle has
three strong flattened spines; the middle one most developed. At the
lower angle of the subopercle is a small flat moderately sharp
point. Fourth and fifth dorsal spines longest; the succeeding ones
gradually diminishing to half the height of the soft portion of the
fin which follows. Second anal spine very stout. Pectorals with the
tips of the rays slightly projecting beyond the membrane, giving it
a festooned appearance. Caudal slightly rounded.

COLOUR.—The specimen above described appears, in its present state,
greyish brown, with zig-zag lines in different directions of a
darker tint. A second individual is stated by Mr. Darwin to have
been, when alive, “above salmon-coloured.” A third is described as
“above aureous-coppery, with wave-like lines of dark brown, which
often collect into four or five transverse bands; fins lead-colour;
beneath obscure; pupil dark blue.” Both these last specimens appear
now, like the first, greyish brown. The wave-like lines extend over
a portion of the dorsal and anal fins.

Habitat, coast of Northern Patagonia, and the mouth of the Plata.

This species is evidently very closely allied to the _P. Brasilianum_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes, and possibly may not be distinct. It differs, however, in having only two, instead of three, teeth on the basal margin of the preopercle, which character prevails in all the specimens. It has also one or two more soft rays in the anal. It likewise approaches the _P. aculeatum_ of the same authors, but this last species is said to be particularly characterized by three very sharp points on the subopercle towards the lower angle, in the room of which, in the species here described, there is only one small triangular flattened point, rather sharp in two individuals, but in the third blunt, with the margin slightly crenated. The colours too appear to be different.

Mr. Darwin’s collection contains three specimens, which do not materially differ from each other. The largest, measuring fifteen inches in length, was taken in forty fathoms water off the mouth of the Rio Plata. The two others, smaller, and not exceeding nine, and seven and a half inches respectively, were got on the coast of Patagonia in lat. 38° 20′: where it is stated that great numbers were obtained, many exceeding a foot in length. In these smaller specimens the canines are not so numerous or well developed as in the larger one.

“One specimen when caught, vomited up small fish and a _Pilumnus_. Was tough for eating, but good.”—D.

DIACOPE MARGINATA. _Cuv._

Diacope marginata, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. ii. p. 320.

FORM.—Greatest depth of the body and length of the head equal, each
being not quite one-third of the entire length. Nape somewhat
elevated, whence the profile falls very regularly in a slightly
convex line. The jaws appear equal when open, but when closed the
upper one is a little the longest. Teeth velutine, with four
well-marked canines in the upper jaw, two on each side of the
anterior extremity, the outer one of which is longer than the inner.
Opercle with two flat blunt points. Denticulations of the
preopercle, particularly those at the angle below the notch,
moderately well developed. Tubercle of the interopercle prominent.
There are scales on the cheeks and pieces of the gill-cover, but
none on the crown, snout, jaws, or suborbitals. The scales on the
body are moderately large. There are rows of small scales between
the rays of the vertical fins, but they are more developed between
the soft rays than between the spinous. The dorsal has the first
spine half the length of the second, which itself is a little
shorter than the third; fourth, fifth, and sixth equal and longest;
there is very little difference in the lengths of the remaining
rays, nor is there much between the spinous and soft portions of the
fin, which, taken as a whole, appears nearly even throughout. Anal
short, commencing in a line with the fourth soft ray of the dorsal,
and terminating at the same distance from the caudal as that fin:
second and third spines very stout. Pectorals narrow and pointed, a
little shorter than the head. Ventrals a little shorter than the
pectorals.

B. 7; D. 10/14, the last double; A. 3/8, the last double; C. 17, and
some short ones; P. 16; V. 1/5.
Length 6 inches.

COLOUR.—“Upper part pale lead-colour: pectorals yellow; ventrals and
anal orange: sides very pale yellow.”—D. In spirits, the colour
appears almost uniform greyish-white. The dorsal and anal fins have
an edging of black, which is not noticed by Mr. Darwin, and which is
characteristic of the species. The caudal is entirely dusky. There
are no traces of spots on any part of the body.

Habitat, Keeling Island, Indian Ocean.

All the known species of _Diacope_ are stated by Cuvier and Valenciennes, as coming from the Indian seas. The _D. marginata_ was first brought from thence by Commerson. It was afterwards received by the authors above mentioned from Pondicherry. The expedition under Captain Duperrey, met with it at the Island of Oualan. Mr. Darwin’s specimen was obtained at the Keeling or Cocos Islands: I believe it to be referrible to this species, as it possesses the characteristic black edging on the dorsal and anal fins; but as the description in the “Histoire des Poissons” is very brief, containing a mere notice of the colours, I have thought it advisable to annex that of the present individual.

GENUS—ARRIPIS. _Jen._

_Membrana branchialis septem-radiata; aperturâ amplâ. Pinna dorsalis
unica; spinis gracilibus. Dentes aculeiformes, tenues; serie
maxillari externâ cæteris fortiori. Operculum mucronibus duobus
parvis posticè armatum. Preoperculum marginibus basali et
adscendenti denticulatis; spinis nullis. Ossa infraorbitalia leviter
denticulata. Os maxillare squamosum. Squamæ corporis levissimè
ciliatæ, posticè striis levissimis, transversis, parallelis,
flabelli locum occupantibus._

I propose to establish this new genus for the reception of the _Centropristes Georgianus_ of Valenciennes, which appears to offer sufficient peculiarities to warrant such a step. Its herring-like form, denticulated suborbital, scaly maxillary, small pectorals, backward position of the ventrals, and deeply forked caudal, sufficiently distinguish it from _Centropristes_, with which it hardly agrees in any of its characters, beyond that of wanting canines, and having the preopercle denticulated, and the opercle armed with small sharp points. Its teeth, however, are not exactly velutine, as in the typical species of that genus, but rather in fine card, with the outer row in both jaws stronger than the others. But, perhaps, one of the most marked peculiarities in this proposed genus resides in the scales, which have, instead of the usual fan of diverging striæ on their basal portions, a triangular space filled up by a number of extremely fine, closely approximating striæ, parallel to each other, and also parallel to the basal margin, which is cut quite square and entire.[5]

Although this genus is thus separated from _Centropristes_, there is no doubt of its having a near affinity with it; and also with _Grystes_, from which last, however, it is at once known by its denticulated preopercle. It is still more closely allied to _Apsilus_, which it very much resembles in its general form, as well as in some of its particular characters. Amongst other points of resemblance with this last genus, may be noticed the similarity of the teeth; the very large gill-opening; the small and inconspicuous points on the opercle; the weak spines of the dorsal and anal, both which fins also terminate in a point behind; the small pectorals, and the deeply forked caudal.

It is probable that the _Centropristes truttaceus_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes also belongs to this new genus, which, as well as the _C. Georgianus_, comes from New Holland, and which those authors seem, not without much hesitation, to have placed provisionally in the group in which it now stands. It is not stated, however, whether the peculiar character of the scales in the _C. Georgianus_, above pointed out, exists also in this species.

ARRIPIS GEORGIANUS.

Centropristes Georgianus, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. vii. p. 338.

FORM.—As M. Valenciennes has given an accurate and detailed
description of this fish; and as I have already stated above some of
its leading characters, it is not necessary to say much further on
this head in reference to the specimen in Mr. Darwin’s collection. I
need only point out wherein it differs from the description in the
“Histoire des Poissons,” the greater part of which applies exactly.
M. Valenciennes states that the ventral profile is more curved than
the dorsal, but there is not much difference in their respective
degrees of curvature in this specimen. The thickness of the body,
which he fixes at one-third of the depth, is here nearly half the
depth. The following characters may be also given, in addition to
his. Above each orbit are two short crests or ridges which meet at
an angle anteriorly, and the interocular space between these pairs
of ridges is rather depressed; beyond, or immediately above the
upper lip, the snout is a little protuberant. The band of teeth in
each jaw is narrow, with the outer row longer than the others; and
at the sides of the jaw, this outer row is all that is obvious. The
intermaxillary is slightly protractile. The eye is hardly removed so
much as one diameter from the end of the snout. The limb of the
preopercle is striated; the angle at bottom rounded, and much
dilated, so that the ascending margin falls in advance of a
vertical. The contour of the membrane of the opercle is rounded. The
cheeks, and all the pieces of the gill-cover, with the exception of
the broad limb of the preopercle, are scaly: there are also a few
scales on the maxillary, but none on the crown between the eyes, or
on the snout, or lower jaw. The dorsal and anal terminate nearly in
the same vertical line, but the latter reaches a trifle the
farthest. Both fins are invested at their base with a scaly
membrane, the scales of which are of a long lanceolate form. The
length of the caudal equals the depth of the body. That of the
pectorals equals half the depth: these fins are attached a little
behind the opercle, and a little below the middle. The point of
attachment of the ventrals is in a vertical line which passes
through the middle of the pectorals, and coincides with the
commencement of the dorsal. They are longer than the pectorals; and
in their axillæ is a lanceolate membranaceous scale half their own
length. There is a similar, but shorter scale in the axilla of the
pectorals also.

B. 7; D. 9/16; A. 3/10; C. 17–6/6; P. 15; V. 1/5.
Length 9 inches 10 lines.

COLOUR.—Not noticed in the recent state. In spirits, the whole fish
appears of a nearly uniform dull metallic yellowish white, tinged
with olive on the back and upper part of the sides.

Mr. Darwin obtained this species in King George’s Sound, in New Holland, the same place in which it was discovered by MM. Quoy and Gaimard.

APLODACTYLUS PUNCTATUS. _Val._

Aplodactylus punctatus, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. viii. p. 352. pl. 242.

This very remarkable fish was first sent from Valparaiso, by M. D’Orbigny, where it was also observed by M. Gay. Mr. Darwin’s collection contains a specimen, which has unfortunately lost the number attached to it; but as he made a collection on that coast, it was probably obtained in the same locality. The description given of it in the “Histoire des Poissons,” is so detailed as well as accurate, and the figure so exact, that it is quite unnecessary to annex that of the present individual. I may merely observe that the number of simple rays at the bottom of the pectorals, which appears to be a character of some importance, and which has led to the generic name of _Aplodactylus_, amounts in this specimen to six, being two more than was observed by M. Valenciennes in his, though the total number of rays in this fin is the same. I may also allude to the circumstance of the dorsal being invested at the base with a thickened membrane on each side, closely covered with small scales, which extends over nearly its whole length, but is most conspicuous along the spinous portion. This character is not mentioned by M. Valenciennes. Neither does he mention the rows of minute scales, which occur between the rays of all the fins, except the ventrals.

Mr. Darwin’s specimen of this fish is eleven inches in length. The following is the fin-ray formula:

B. 6; D. 15—1/21; A. 3/8; C. 17. &c.; P. 9—vi; V. 1/5.

1. DULES AURIGA. _Cuv. et Val._

Dules Auriga, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iii. p. 83. pl. 51.

FORM.—This species is remarkable for the prolongation of the third
dorsal spine, which, in the present specimen, is not quite equal to
half the entire length of the head and body; a small portion,
however, appears to have been broken off. The greatest depth is
contained three and a half times in the entire length. The head,
measured to the extremity of the opercular membrane, exactly equals
the depth. The line of the profile is not quite straight, there
being a slight depression at the nape, above which is a convexity in
immediate advance of the dorsal fin. The lower jaw is a very little
the longest. The eyes are large; and the distance between them
barely equals their diameter. The other characters are exactly as
stated in the “Histoire des Poissons.”

B. 6; D. 10/13; A. 3/7; C. 17; P. 17; V. 1/5.
Length 5 inches 3 lines.

COLOUR.—The recent colours are given by Mr. Darwin in his notes as
follows: “Sides with numerous waving longitudinal lines of brownish
red; the intermediate spaces greenish-silvery, so figured as to look
mottled. Head marked with lines of dull red and green. Ventral and
anal fins dark greenish blue.”—He does not notice the vertical bands
alluded to by Cuvier and Valenciennes, which are sufficiently
obvious, and which accord with the figure and description of the
authors just mentioned.

Habitat, Maldonado Bay, Rio Plata.

2. DULES LEUCISCUS. _Jen._

Dules malo, _Val.?_ Hist. des Poiss. tom. vii. p. 360.

_D. pinnis caudali, anali, dorsalique molli, nigro-marginatis; dorsali
profundè emarginatá, spiná ultimá radiis articulatis breviore;
operculo mucronibus duobus, inferiore maximo, armato; preoperculo
margine adscendenti levissimè denticulato, basali denticulis
fortioribus._

B. 6; D. 10/11; A. 3/12; C. 16, &c.; P. 13; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 4. lin. 5.

FORM.—General form resembling that of a small _Dace_. Greatest depth
about one-third of the entire length, caudal excluded. Length of the
head rather less. Dorsal line falling with the profile in one
continuous gentle curve. Eyes large; their diameter contained two
and a half times in the length of the head: the distance between
them less than one diameter. Suborbitals finely but very
conspicuously denticulated. Jaws nearly equal; the lower one a
little the longest. In each, a band of velutine teeth, with the
outer row rather longer than the others. Opercle with two points,
the lower one most developed. Preopercle with the limb striated: the
ascending margin with the denticulations so fine as to be hardly
sensible to the naked eye; those on the basal margin larger and more
obvious. Scales of a moderate size; about forty-three in a
longitudinal row; their free portions finely striated. Cheeks and
opercle scaly; crown naked, with a shallow groove above each eye.
Lateral line at first slightly descending, but afterwards straight;
its course, until past the dorsal and anal fins, a little above the
middle of the depth. Dorsal deeply notched: the anterior portion
consisting of nine spines; the first very short, and scarcely more
than half the length of the second; third and fourth longer,
increasing gradually; fifth and sixth equal and longest, equalling
half the depth of the body; seventh, eighth, and ninth, shorter, and
gradually decreasing; the tenth spine, with which the second portion
of the fin commences, is of the same length as the fifth, but not
quite so long as the soft rays which follow; these soft rays,
however, gradually become shorter, the last two not more than
equalling the second spinous. The whole space occupied by the dorsal
is more than one-third of the entire length. Anal commencing in a
line with the ninth dorsal spine; its own three spines gradually
increasing in length, but the second the strongest; soft portion of
this fin longer than the corresponding portion of the dorsal, and
terminating a little nearer the caudal. Vent in a line with the
seventh dorsal spine. Pectorals small, reaching to the vent.
Ventrals attached a little further back, and reaching a very little
beyond it. Caudal forked.

COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Silvery, tinged on the back, and above the
lateral line, with bluish grey, and somewhat mottled in places with
darker spots. Fins yellowish grey, tinged with dusky. The caudal,
anal, and soft portion of the dorsal, are a little mottled with
dusky, besides having a black edging; there is also a conspicuous
black spot at the anterior angle of this last fin.

A second specimen is only three inches and a quarter in length; but differs in no respect from the above, except in having one soft ray less in the anal fin.

Habitat, River Matavai, Tahiti.

Several of the species in this genus are extremely similar as well in form as in colours. Possibly that which I have here characterized as new may not be distinct from the _D. malo_ of Valenciennes, which comes from the same country; but the description in the “Histoire des Poissons” is so brief, that it is hardly possible to determine this point with certainty. It has, however, two, and one specimen three, soft rays less in the anal fin. It is also closely allied to the _D. marginatus_, from which it hardly differs, excepting in having the denticulations of the preopercle rather stronger, and the tenth dorsal spine shorter in relation to the soft rays which follow. The _D. marginatus_, however, comes from Java. The species here described was found by Mr. Darwin in Tahiti, in the river of Matavai.

HELOTES OCTOLINEATUS. _Jen._

_H. corpore lineis longitudinalibus nigricantibus octo; pinnis
dorsali, anali, caudalique, maculis fuscis; vertice striis elevatis
duabus subparallelis; preoperculo distinctè denticulato, et ad
marginem limbi internum subcristato; operculo mucronibus duobus,
superiore minimo; squamis ubique lævissimis._

B. 6; D. 12/9; A. 3/7; C. 17, &c.; P. 15; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 9. lin. 9.

FORM.—Body oblong. Greatest depth exactly four and a half times in the
entire length. Length of the head rather less than the depth of the
body. Snout short and obtuse. Jaws exactly equal: each with a
broadish band of velutine teeth, which are all, apparently even the
most minute, three-pointed, although this character is not very
obvious except in the outer row, which are longer than the others.
No vomerine teeth appear externally, but they may be felt through
the skin of the palate, and on dissecting this off, there is brought
to view a small hard disk rough with minute asperities. Mouth very
little cleft, the commissure not extending more than half-way
between the end of the snout and the anterior margin of the orbit.
Eyes rather large; their diameter one-fourth the length of the head.
Maxillary, when the mouth is closed, concealed in part beneath the
suborbital, the lower margin of which is somewhat sinuous and
obscurely denticulated, the denticulations being concealed by the
membrane and more easily felt than seen. The denticulations on the
preopercle very manifest. The principal spine on the opercle slender
and very sharp, not exactly straight, but slightly curved, the
convexity of the bend being downwards; above is a second spine, but
very small and easily overlooked. The crown of the head has two
nearly parallel elevated lines, which take their origin between the
nostrils, and terminate at the occiput, but do not meet as in the
_H. sexlineatus_;[6] a third line commences there exactly between
them, and runs singly in a backward direction down the middle of the
nape; this last is scarcely more than half the length of the two
former. The cheeks and pieces of the gill-cover are scaly; but not
the cranium, snout, jaws, or limb of the preopercle, which last is
margined internally by a slightly elevated ridge. The scales on the
body are thin and small, and without any trace of denticulations on
their free edges, even under a magnifier, and the body of the fish
is quite smooth to the touch rubbed either way. Lateral line as in
_H. sexlineatus_. Dorsal also nearly similar, but more deeply
notched, the membrane beyond the eleventh spine falling nearly to
the base of the twelfth, which precedes the soft portion: sixth
spine longest, equalling very nearly, but not quite, half the depth;
the eleventh equals the second; the twelfth is about one-third
longer than the eleventh, but is itself scarcely half the first soft
ray. The anal has three soft rays less than the _H. sexlineatus_,
and there are apparently but two spines, the first being (at least
in this specimen, where, however, there may have been a portion
broken off) quite short and rudimentary; the second and third spines
are both slender, the former being rather more than half the length
of the latter, and this last rather more than half the first soft
ray. All the fins take their origin as in _H. sexlineatus_. The
pectorals are about two-thirds the length of the head. The ventrals,
which are very near together, are longer than the pectorals, but do
not equal the head: they have no elongated scale between them, or in
their axillæ.

COLOUR.—For the most part similar to that of the _H. sexlineatus_; but
the longitudinal dark lines are more numerous, amounting to eight,
with faint traces of a ninth: the additional ones are on the upper
half of the sides, or above the lateral line, there being four
(instead of two) above that one which passes through the eyes; the
sixth extends the whole length of the fish from the end of the
maxillary to the base of the caudal; the seventh passes immediately
below the pectoral, and terminates in advance of it, without quite
reaching to the edge of the gill-cover; the eighth is exactly
equidistant from the pectoral and ventral; this last is a very
narrow pale line, but the others, with the exception of the first
two, are broader and well marked. The soft portion of the dorsal, as
well as the anal and caudal are spotted; the spots on this last
unite to form transverse fasciæ; those on the anal are not very
well-defined. The pectorals and ventrals are without spots, and
pale.

Habitat, S. W. coast of Australia.

This species was procured in King George’s Sound, New Holland. It closely approaches the _H. sexlineatus_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes, the only species of the genus hitherto described, and obtained in the same seas by MM. Quoy and Gaimard. I have little hesitation, however, in pronouncing it to be distinct. Independently of the additional longitudinal lines on the body, and the spots on the fins, which, it is expressly stated by the above authors, are not present in the _H. sexlineatus_, it is distinguished by the striæ on the crown not meeting behind, the dorsal being rather more deeply notched, and the fin-ray formula different. There is one soft ray less in the dorsal, and three less in the anal; also the first spine in this last fin, if it be not broken off in this specimen, is quite rudimentary. The scales present no trace of cilia on their free edges.

1. PINGUIPES FASCIATUS. _Jen._
PLATE V.

_P. corpore fasciis transversis duodecim castaneo-fuscis, alternis
latioribus; dentibus palatinis paucis, conicis, subaggregatis, vix
seriem formantibus; pharyngalibus aculeiformibus; membranâ
branchiali mediocriter emarginatá; operculo spinâ unicâ forti,
alterâ superiore obsoletâ; pinnis ventralibus accuratè thoracicis._

B. 6; D. 7/27; A. 1/24; C. 15, &c.; P. 18; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 12. lin. 9.

FORM.—Body thickest, as well as deepest, in the region of the
pectorals, compressed behind, and becoming more so as it approaches
the tail; depth also gradually diminishing from that point. The
greatest depth is rather less than five and a half times in the
entire length: head contained four times and a quarter in the same.
The thickness at the pectorals is at least three-fourths of the
depth: and the thickness of the head is quite equal to it. Dorsal
line nearly straight from behind the eyes, in front of which the
profile descends obliquely. Eyes high, nearly reaching to the line
of the profile; a little behind the middle point of the length of
the head; their diameter rather less than one-fifth of this last;
the distance between them one diameter and a half. The commissure of
the lips does not reach to the eyes by a space equalling half the
diameter of the eye. Jaws equal. Lips very thick and fleshy, and
partially reflexed, like those of a _Labrus_. Teeth very similar to
those of that genus. In the upper jaw, an outer row (extending all
round) of strong, sharp, slightly curved teeth, regularly set, and
nearly even, but with the anterior ones a little the longest; in all
about forty, twenty on each side; behind these a velutine band,
broadest in front, but also extending the whole way round. In the
lower jaw, a row of curved strong teeth, similar to those above, but
extending only half-way along the sides of the jaws (about nine on
each side), and followed by about seven or eight short blunt conical
ones; a broad velutine band behind the longer curved teeth, but not
behind the others. On the front of the vomer are four or five large
blunt conical teeth, mixed with smaller ones of the same form: there
is also a small group of these little conical teeth at the
commencement of each palatine, but they are not carried on further
in a single row.[7] Tongue small and inconspicuous, fastened down
except just at the tip, smooth. Pharyngeal teeth in strong card; but
no conical ones behind that are visible. Branchial membrane united
to its fellow, and free all round at the margin, with a moderately
deep notch underneath. Preopercle rounded at the angle; the
ascending margin oblique. Opercle with a strong sharp spine at its
upper angle, but not extending beyond the membrane; a second
rudimentary one above it obtusely rounded. Small scales on the
cheeks, preopercle, and opercle, but not on the snout, or between
the eyes, or on the suborbital, or jaws, or branchial membrane, or
interopercle. The scales on the body are rather small, finely
ciliated on their edges, thin, and of an oblong form, cut square at
the basal margin, with a fan of twelve or fifteen striæ. Lateral
line not very strongly marked, taking nearly a straight course from
the upper part of the scapular to the caudal. No particular lines,
markings, or pores, about the head, jaws, or between the eyes.
Pectorals rounded; two-thirds the length of the head. Ventrals
exactly beneath them, a very little shorter, thick and fleshy, so
that the rays can hardly be distinguished. Dorsal and anal similar
to those of the _P. Brasilianus_; the former has the spinous rays at
first low, but the rest of the fin is of one uniform height,
equalling a little less than half the depth: the latter commences
under the sixth soft ray of the dorsal, and terminates in the same
line. Caudal square, with rows of small scales between the rays for
half their length: also a few minute scales at the base of the
pectoral rays, but none on the other fins.

_Fish. Pl. 5._

_W. Hawkins del^t._

_Pinguipes fasciatus. ¾ Nat. Size._
]

COLOUR.—“Above pale ‘chestnut brown,’ so arranged as to form
transverse bands on the sides; sides, head, fins, with a black
tinge; beneath irregularly white: under lip pink: eyes with pupil
black, and iris yellow.”—D. _In spirits_; the back and upper half of
the sides are brown, the lower half of the sides and belly pale,
with twelve transverse dark fasciæ, the alternate ones broader than
the others. The dorsal and anal appear to have been bluish, the tint
increasing in intensity from the base upwards; but the former is
edged above with a narrow white line just beneath the tips of the
rays, which extends the whole length of the soft portion of the fin.
The inside of the ventrals appears also to have been bluish; but the
pectorals are pale, or yellowish. Caudal brown like the back.

Habitat, coast of Northern Patagonia.

From the east coast of Patagonia, in Lat. 37° 26′. There can be no doubt of its belonging to the genus _Pinguipes_, with which it agrees in its very strong resemblance to the _Labridæ_, as regards the head, lips, and teeth, and in its fleshy ventrals; but there are very few teeth on the palatines, seeming to show that there is not much ground for separating this genus from _Percis_. In many of its characters, it resembles the _P. Brasilianus_ of Cuvier, but it is decidedly distinct in others. It differs slightly in its proportions; in the palatine and pharyngeal teeth; in the position of the ventrals, which are not at all jugular, but immediately beneath the pectorals; in the branchial membrane being more notched; and in having two soft rays less in the anal. The colours also are different.

This fish is so like a _Labrus_, that at first sight it might easily deceive a student. Nevertheless its vomerine teeth, spines on the opercle, and ciliated scales, point out its right family. At the same time no system can be considered natural, which does not admit _Pinguipes_ as one of the connecting links between the _Percidæ_ and _Labridæ_.

2. PINGUIPES CHILENSIS. _Val._

Pinguipes Chilensis, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. ix. p. 338.

FORM.—More slender and elongated than the last species. Depth nearly
six and a half 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 that
behind measured to the posterior part of the opercle; their diameter
nearly six times in the length of the head; the interval between
them nearly two diameters. When the mouth is closed, a vertical from
the posterior part of the maxillary forms a tangent to the anterior
part of the orbit. Lips not so thick and fleshy as in the _P.
fasciatus_; but the teeth almost exactly similar. Tongue much
larger, occupying nearly the entire platform of the mouth. Branchial
membrane much more deeply notched, the notch reaching as far as the
anterior extremity of the interopercle. 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.
Ventrals 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. 1/5.
Length 11 inches.

COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Back 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. Darwin’s notes, with
respect to the colour in the living fish, only state “fins dark.”

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. But 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 not show so strong a resemblance to the _Labridæ_; but it approaches very closely the _P. Brasilianus_.

PERCOPHIS BRASILIANUS. _Cuv._

Percophis Brasilianus, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iii. p. 209.
pl. 64.
———— Brasiliensis, _Freycinet_, (Voyage) Zoologie, p. 351, pl. 53. fig.
1.

FORM.—Depth 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 amongst 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 margin of the preopercle very finely, almost obsoletely
denticulated. Branchial membrane with seven rays, the seventh being
not much smaller than the sixth.[8] The whole head covered with
scales, including the lower jaw, and the upper half of the
maxillary. 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 of 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
strictness a very little beyond, the second dorsal; rays and
membrane much as in that fin, to which it answers in general height.
Distance between the second dorsal and caudal, only
one-twenty-eighth of the entire length. Caudal appears obliquely
square, the upper rays being slightly longer than the lower, but
perhaps worn so. Pectorals one-eighth of the entire length. Ventrals
about three-fourths of their length, attached in front of them, as
described by Cuvier. In the axillæ 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.

COLOUR.—“Above pale, regularly and symmetrically marked with brownish
red, the tip of each scale being so coloured. Beneath silvery white.
Sides with a faint coppery tinge. Ventral fins yellowish. Pupil of
the eye intense black.”—D.

SECOND SPECIMEN.—Breadth or thickness at the pectorals about ten and a
half times in the entire length. Depth at that point less than the
breadth. Canine teeth in the lower jaw smaller than those above, and
not set at such regular intervals as in the first specimen.[9]
Scarcely any appearance of denticulations on the membranous border
of the preopercle. Distance between the two dorsals a little less
than the length of the first. Pectorals contained eight and a half
times in the entire length. Fin-ray formula as follows:—

D. 9–32; A. 42; C. 15, &c.; P. 17; V. 1/5.
Length 14 inches.

In all other respects exactly similar to the specimen first described.

Habitat, coast of Northern Patagonia, and Maldonado.

Mr. Darwin’s collection contains two specimens of this fish, which was first discovered by MM. Quoy and Gaimard at Rio Janeiro. The larger one was caught by hook and line in fourteen fathoms water on the coast of Patagonia, in lat. 38° 20′. The second was taken at Maldonado, where he states it to be common. They differ in several respects from the description and figure in the “Histoire des Poissons,” of Cuvier and Valenciennes; but as they also differ a little from each other, the species is perhaps subject to variation. Amongst other points, I may mention the scales on the jaws, which are expressly stated by Cuvier to be _without_ scales; and also the emargination of the membrane between the rays of the second dorsal and anal, which is not represented in his figure, nor alluded to in his description, though very striking. This last character appears, however, in the figure given in the Zoological Atlas of Freycinet’s voyage, which is on the whole a more correct representation. “When cooked, was good eating.”—D.

FAMILY.—MULLIDÆ.

1. UPENEUS FLAVOLINEATUS. _Cuv. et Val._

Upeneus flavolineatus, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iii. p.
336.

FORM.—Considerably elongated. Greatest depth contained five times in
the entire length, caudal excluded. Head three and a half times in
the same. Dorsal line nearly straight. Profile very convex. Crown
between the eyes broad and somewhat depressed, forming a slight
hollow. Eyes large; their diameter more than one-fourth that of the
head. Suborbitals marked on their surface near the lower margin with
six or eight diverging salient lines, each terminating at bottom in
a mucous pore. Teeth forming a narrow velutine band, hardly visible
to the naked eye, but sensible to the touch: none on the vomer or
palatines. Opercle with one short flat spine projecting beyond the
posterior margin rather more than half a line. Barbules reaching to
a little beyond the angle of the preopercle. Mucous tubes of the
lateral line with five or six branches; the branches not always
simple,[10] but consisting sometimes of two or three main ones which
are subdivided. First dorsal of a triangular form, with the spines
rather slender; the first two equalling more than three-fourths of
the depth of the body. Space between the dorsals about equalling the
length of the first. Second dorsal with the first ray (or spine)
scarcely more than half the length of the second, which is longest;
the third and succeeding rays gradually decreasing to the last,
which is shortest. Length of the second dorsal just equalling its
greatest height. Anal answering to this last fin. Caudal deeply
forked; the central rays not being one-fourth the length of the
outermost ones. Ventrals and pectorals exactly of the same length;
both reaching to a vertical line from the extremity of the first
dorsal. Vent in a line with the commencement of the second dorsal.

D. 7–1/8; A. 1/6; C. 15, &c.; P. 16; V. 1/5.
Length 6 inches 9 lines.

COLOUR.—“Dull silvery, with a yellow stripe on the side.”—D.

There can be but little doubt of this species being the _U. flavolineatus_, which appears to have a wide range over the Indian Ocean, and also to occur in the South Pacific. Mr. Darwin’s specimen was taken at the Keeling Islands.

2. UPENEUS TRIFASCIATUS. _Cuv. et Val._

Upeneus trifasciatus, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iii. p. 344.

FORM.—General form resembling that of the _Mullus Surmuletus_, but the
snout more elongated. Greatest depth contained about four times and
a half in the entire length. Head exactly one-fourth of the same.
Eyes small, distant three diameters from the end of the snout.
Suborbitals with a moderate number of pores on their disk, but
without any salient lines. Posterior extremity of the maxillary
broad. A single row of conical teeth in each jaw, very uniform in
size, not very large or very close; about twenty-two above and
twenty below. Spine of the opercle about a line in length. Barbules
reaching to, or a little beyond, the posterior margin of the
opercle. Lateral line not much ramified. Height of the first dorsal
equalling more than half the depth. Space between the two dorsals
equalling one-third the length of the second dorsal. Both this last
fin and the anal terminating in a considerable point behind.
Ventrals large, reaching very nearly to the anal.

D. 8—9; A. 7; C. 15, &c.; P. 16; V. 1/5.
Length 7 inches 9 lines.

COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Dark brownish yellow, with faint indications
of three dusky patches or abbreviated transverse fasciæ, one beneath
each dorsal, and the third on each side of the upper part of the
tail. Second dorsal and anal crossed by several whitish longitudinal
lines; the posterior point of each fin nearly black.

This species was obtained by Mr. Darwin at Tahiti. It is probably the _U. trifasciatus_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes, who received their specimens from the Carolinas and Sandwich Islands. But it does not so well accord with the _Mulle multibande_ of Quoy and Gaimard, which is supposed by the authors of the “Histoire des Poissons,” to be the same as their species. If the figure in the Zoology of “Freycinet’s Voyage” be correct, the _Mulle multibande_ has the nostrils much smaller, and the spines of the first dorsal much stronger; the ventrals also are relatively much shorter, so as to reach very little more than half-way to the anal. Future observation must determine whether the two fish are distinct or not.

3. UPENEUS PRAYENSIS. _Cuv. et Val.?_

Upeneus Prayensis, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iii. p. 357.

FORM.—Very much resembling that of the _U. trifasciatus_, but with the
following differences. The eyes rather larger, distant from the end
of the snout rather more than two diameters and a half. Suborbitals
traversed towards their lower margins by a number of lines, each
terminating in a pore, and with their whole disks studded besides
with pores without lines: the lower margin itself presents four
distinct deeply-cut notches, the first of which receives the end of
the maxillary when the mouth is closed. A single row of small
conical teeth in each jaw; in addition to which, in the upper, there
are some stronger ones in front, exterior to the others, amounting
to eight in number, the central pair of which bends inwards or
towards each other, and the three on each side, which are the
strongest of all, backwards and outwards. No teeth on the vomer or
palatines. The posterior extremity of the maxillary is much narrower
than in the last species. Spine of the opercle sharp and well
developed, about two lines and a quarter in length. Barbules
reaching very nearly to the posterior margin of the opercle.
Ramifications of the mucous tubes on the lateral line very numerous.
Height of the first dorsal equalling rather more than half the
depth. Space between the two dorsals equalling half the length of
the second dorsal. This last fin pointed behind, as well as the
anal, but not so much so as in the _U. trifasciatus_. Pectorals when
laid back reaching to a vertical line from the extremity of the
first dorsal. Ventrals reaching a little beyond the pectorals, but
falling short of the anal by a space equalling half their own
length.

D. 8–9; A. 7; C. 15, &c.; P. 16; V. 1/5.
Length 8 inches.

COLOUR.—“Vermilion, with streaks of iridescent blue.”—D. In spirits,
the colour appears of a uniform dull reddish yellow, without any
indication of spots or other markings on the fins or body.

Habitat, Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands.

I suppose this to be the _U. Prayensis_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes, the description of which, so far as given in the “Histoire des Poissons,” is tolerably applicable. Those authors, however, mention a spot in the middle of each scale of a deeper red than the ground colour, which is not alluded to by Mr. Darwin in his notes, and of which I see no trace on the fish in its present state. On the other hand they are silent with regard to the blue streaks. In some of its characters, especially as regards the teeth, this species seems to approach the _U. maculatus_; but the colours are different in this last also, which is moreover found on the opposite side of the Atlantic.

FAMILY.—TRIGLIDÆ.

TRIGLA KUMU. _Less. et Garn._

Trigla kumu, _Less. et Garn._ Zoologie de la Coquille, (Poissons) Pl. 19. ———— _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iv. p. 36.

FORM.—In general appearance very much resembling the _T. Hirundo_, but
more elongated. Depth contained about five times and a half in the
entire length. Head rather more than four times and a quarter in the
same. The obliquity of the profile about the same as that of the _T.
Hirundo_, but the concavity of the interocular space less. The
granulations on the head not so coarse, or so strongly marked, the
lines in which they are arranged being closer and more numerous:
those on the suborbitals radiate from a point nearer the extremity
of the snout: no crest or ridge at the bottom of the suborbital, and
only a very indistinct one at the bottom of the preopercle: as
Cuvier has well noted, the grains on the border of the preopercle
are divided into little isles, or collected in clusters, by
irregular lines which undulate amongst them; and in this specimen,
the same character presents itself on the posterior and upper
portion of the suborbital: some of the first lines on the opercle
are plain, or without granulations. Snout emarginated, with three or
four denticulations on each side rather sharper and more developed
than in the _T. Hirundo_. Two spines at the anterior angle of the
eye; but none at the posterior angle, or on the temples.
Suprascapular, opercular, and clavicular spines much as in the _T.
Hirundo_. Lateral line and whole body smooth, excepting the dorsal
ridges, which are strongly serrated. Dorsal spines as in the _T.
Hirundo_; second longest; the first with a series of obsolete
granulations on its anterior edge. Pectorals not quite one-third of
the entire length: free rays incrassated in the middle, tapering
towards the ends, but with the extreme tips slightly dilated.

D. 10—16; A. 16; C. 11, &c.; P. 11, and 3 free; V. 1/5.
Length 16 inches 6 lines.

COLOUR.—“Whole body bright red.”—D. The pectorals, of which no note
was taken in the recent state, appear, in the dried skin,
externally, of a dusky colour, approaching to black, with white
rays; the lower margin, however, is paler, and was probably
originally red like the body: inside, the colour is much the same,
but variegated with a few white spots; there are also portions of a
paler tint, probably the remains of a fine blue. I see no distinct
trace of the large deep black spot, said by Cuvier to occupy the
seventh and eighth rays on the posterior face of the fin.

Taken in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. The only respect in which it differs from the description of the _T. kumu_ by Cuvier and Valenciennes, is its having one more spine in the first dorsal.

1. PRIONOTUS PUNCTATUS. _Cuv. et Val._

Prionotus punctatus, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. iv. p. 68.

FORM.—Well characterized by the form of the snout, which is very
obtuse, and as it were truncated, with scarcely any notch in the
middle; the margins of the lobes are crenated with minute denticles,
immediately beyond which is a small sharp spine directed backwards;
further on, almost immediately above the corners of the mouth, is a
second similar, but somewhat larger spine. There are also some
minute spines on the temples, as well as on the ridge of the
preopercle, besides the ordinary spines, common to other species,
which in this are all well developed and very sharp. Dorsal spines
smooth, or only the first with a faintly marked line of
granulations; third longest. Pectorals long, contained exactly two
and a half times in the entire length; when laid back, they reach to
within two rays of the extremity of the second dorsal. Free rays
rather slender and tapering, with the extreme tips pointed; not
above half the length of the pectorals. Ventrals rather longer than
the free rays.

D. 10—12; A. 11; C. 11, &c.; P. 13 and 3; V. 1/5.
Length 8 inches 9 lines.

COLOUR.—“Above and sides olive brown, with red spots and marks;
beneath silvery white; edges of the pectoral fins Prussian blue.”—D.

_Fish. Pl. 6._

_W. Hawkins. del._

_Prionotus Miles. Nat. Size._
]

This species is said by Cuvier and Valenciennes to be common all along the Brazilian coast as far as the mouth of the Plata. Mr. Darwin’s specimen was taken swimming on the surface in the Bay of Rio de Janeiro, and agrees well with the description by those authors. “When first taken made a croaking noise.”—D.

2. PRIONOTUS MILES. _Jen._

PLATE VI.

_P. splendidè rubro variatus; rostro emarginato, utrinque distinctè
denticulato; buccis levissimè granulosis; fossulâ dorsali lateribus
inermibus; squamis corporis parvis, ubique ciliatis; pinnis
pectoralibus modicis, corpore certè triplò brevioribus; radiis
liberis subincrassatis, apicibus dilatatis._

B. 7; D. 10–12; A. 11; C. 12, &c.; P. 13 et 3; V. 1/5.
Long. unc. 10. lin. 3.