ceps. It has completely lost its colours,
and shows neither the greenish bands of australis, nor the silvery marks
of axillaris, it has, however, the form of the fins of the latter, with
the number of rays exactly as in australis, a space between the ventrals
and anus equal to the length of the head, scales on the body, as in
axillaris, and similar pores on the head. Better materials are required
to enable us to decide whether axillaris be a nominal species or not.

...

Scorpaena stokesii. RICHARDSON.

RADII. D. 12 : 9; A. 3 : 5; C. 13 6/6; P. 17; V. 1 : 5.

FISHES. PLATE 2. Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, natural size.

The Scorpaenae have so strong a generic resemblance among themselves that
it is difficult to detect the distinctive characters of the species,
especially as the colours of the recent fish speedily fade when macerated
in spirits, or when the mucous integument decays or is injured. We have
received but a single example of the subject of this article, which is
named in honour of the able commander of the Beagle.

The species bears a near resemblance to the Scorpaena militaris, but
differs from it in having no spinous point terminating the intra orbitar
ridges, and in the distribution of the scales on the cheek and gill
cover. The spinous points on the head approach very near to those of bufo
and porcus. The inferior preorbitar tooth is acutely spinous, and points
directly downwards; the two anterior ones are inconspicuous, and not very
acute, and the smaller upper posterior one observed in most Scorpaenae is
obsolete, or, at least, completely hidden by the integuments. The nasal
spines are, as usual, small, simple, and acute. The three supra orbitar
teeth are smaller than in militaris, and the middle one reclines so as to
be concealed by the integument instead of standing boldly up. The two low
ridges between the orbits do not end in spinous points. The lateral
ridges continued from the orbits over the supra scapulars, and the
temporal ridges which are parallel to them, but run farther back, contain
each four teeth. The infra-orbitar ridge is slightly uneven anteriorly,
and two reclining teeth may be made out at its posterior end. The
preoperculum is curved in the segment of a circle, and has a short spine,
with a smaller one on its base, opposite to the abutment of the
infra-orbitar ridge. Beneath this spine there are four angular points on
the edge of the bone. The opercular spines are as usual two in numb