Serranus Goreensis, _Cuv. et Val._ Hist. des Poiss. tom. vi. p. 384.
FORM.—The general form approaching very closely that of the _S.
Gigas_. Greatest depth one-fourth of the entire length. Head rather
less than one-third of the same. The diameter of the eye is
one-fifth of the length of the head; and the distance from the eye
to the extremity of the snout is about one diameter and a quarter.
The lower jaw is covered with small scales, but not the maxillary.
The nostrils consist of two round apertures, the anterior one rather
larger than the posterior, and covered by a membranous flap. The
teeth in the upper jaw form a velutine band, with the outer row in
fine card, and two stronger and longer ones near the middle of the
jaw on each side: below there is a narrow band of fine card, with
stronger ones situated as above. The denticulations at the angle of
the preopercle are well developed, especially two teeth which are
much stronger than any on the ascending margin. The opercle has
three flat spines, the middle one longest and projecting further
than the others; but the terminating angle of the membrane projects
beyond this spine to a distance equalling the length of the spine
itself. The dorsal has the fourth spine longest, and equalling just
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 the fin; they rise
highest just at the commencement of the soft portion. The caudal is
square at 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. 11/16; A. 3/8; C. 15, &c.—P. 17; V. 1/5.
Length 7 inches.
COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Of 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.
Habitat, 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.
But 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.