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.