_P. capite longo, lævi, ubique inermi, spinis duâbus ad angulum
preoperculi brevissimis æqualibus exceptis; oculis magnis, arctè
propinquantibus: dorso et lateribus fuscis; abdomine albido; pinnâ
dorsali primâ liturâ magnâ irregulari nigro-fuscâ posticè maculatâ;
dorsali secundâ, caudali, et pectoralibus, maculis fuscis parvis;
anali et ventralibus ferè omnino nigricantibus._
B. 7; D. 8–12; A. 12; C. 13, &c.; P. 19; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 16.
FORM.—Head very much depressed, and rather longer than in most of the
species of this genus; its length being nearly twice its own
breadth, and nearly one-third of the entire length. Breadth of the
body at the pectorals one-seventh of the entire length: depth at
that point half the breadth. Snout rounded horizontally. Lower jaw
longest. Gape reaching to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit.
A band of sharp velutine teeth in each jaw broadest above; a double
semicircular patch of similar teeth on the front of the vomer, and a
band all along each palatine as broad as that in the lower jaw.
Branchial arches and pharyngeans rough with similar teeth. Tongue
free, thin, flat, truncated at the apex with a double emargination
in the middle, of equal breadth throughout, without teeth, the
central portion cartilaginous with a broad membranous border all
round. Eyes large, their diameter one-sixth the length of the head,
approximating, with not half a diameter between, distant two
diameters from the extremity of the lower jaw. The spines of the
preopercle (which in some species are long and very unequal) very
short and inconspicuous, of equal length, the lower one rounded off
almost to nothing. Head smooth all over; presenting the usual
ridges, which however are not very salient, but with hardly anything
deserving the name of spines, excepting only a small flat spine
terminating the opercle, and a minute but sharp one on the upper
ridge of the scapula: none at the anterior angle of the first
suborbital, or on the ridge of the orbit. Gill-opening very large;
the branchial membrane notched underneath for its whole length.
Pectorals broad and oval but short, contained nearly eight times in
the entire length; the first two rays simple, the next ten branched,
the last seven, which are rather stout, again simple. Ventrals
separate by nearly the whole breadth of the body, attached beneath
the middle of the pectorals, longer than these last fins by nearly
one-third, and reaching very nearly but not quite to the vent, which
is a little posterior to the middle of the entire length: the spine
of the ventrals is one-third of the longest of the articulated rays
which are the last or innermost. The first dorsal commences above
the middle of the pectorals, and occupies between one-sixth and
one-seventh of the entire length; its greatest height is about
two-thirds of its own length; the first spine is very short, and
detached, as in the other species; the second a little shorter than
the third which is longest; the rest gradually decrease to the last,
which is one-third the length of the second; this fin therefore is
not so triangular as in many of this genus. A small space between
the first and second dorsals. This last longer and rather lower than
the former, contained four and a half times in the entire length;
all the rays nearly even, with the exception of the first only,
which is a little shorter than the second. Caudal square. The anal
answers to the second dorsal, but begins, as well as terminates, a
little backwarder.
The lateral line commences at the suprascapular, and gradually bends
down till it reaches the middle of the depth which it keeps for the
remainder of its course; it is perfectly smooth throughout. The
scales cover all the body and a part of the head, but are not
present between the eyes, or on the front of the snout, or on the
jaws. They are small, oblong-oval, finely striated, with a fan of
eleven or twelve deeper striæ posteriorly, their free edges cut
square, not ciliated.
COLOUR.—(_In spirits._)—Back and sides nearly uniform deep brown;
beneath white; the two colours separated by a well-defined line.
First dorsal transparent, with a deep brown stain or blotch on the
membrane, of an irregular form, and occupying more than the
posterior half of the fin. Second dorsal uniformly, but rather
obscurely, spotted throughout. Caudal with transverse rows of
similar spots. Anal nearly uniform pale dusky, the spots hardly
distinguishable from the ground. Ventrals the same. Pectorals with
spots on the rays, but with the intervening membrane nearly
transparent.
Habitat, King George’s Sound, New Holland.
[Illustration:
_Fish. Pl. 8._
_Scorpæna Histrio. Nat. Size._
]
This species very closely approaches the _P. lævigatus_ of Cuvier and
Valenciennes, with which it particularly agrees in the smoothness of its
head, and large approximating eyes. The two spines, however, at the
angle of the preopercle appear to be still smaller than in that
species;[16] the fin-ray formula is a little different; and so also are
the colours; the first dorsal being particularly characterized by a
large irregular dark-coloured stain on its posterior portion, and the
anal and ventrals being almost wholly dusky, instead of pale with spots
on the rays only, as in the _P. lævigatus_. Possibly it may be a mere
variety. Mr. Darwin’s specimen was obtained at King George’s Sound.