PLATE IX. Fig. 1.
_P. pallidè flavescenti-fuscus, fasciis transversis plurimis suprà
rubescenti-nigris infrà miniatis; pinnis verticalibus maculis parvis
ocellatis: vertice, rostro, et maxillis, nudis; preoperculo margine
adscendenti denticulato, basali lævi; operculo mucrone intermedio
forti; spinis dorsalibus ad apices laciniis investitis; pinná
caudali subæquali._
B. 7; D. 10/12; A. 3/7; C. 17; P. 18; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 7. lin. 3.
FORM.—Oval, compressed; the back not much arched, forming one
continuous curve with the profile, which falls gently from the nape;
ventral line less convex than the dorsal. Greatest depth equalling
one-fourth of the entire length; head about one-third; thickness
rather less than two-thirds of the depth. Mouth rather wide, with
the lower jaw longest. The maxillary dilates at its posterior
extremity; it reaches to nearly beneath the middle of the orbit, and
does not retire beneath the suborbital. In each jaw a band of
velutine teeth; above there is an outer row of longer ones in card,
and one or two in front on each side still longer resembling small
canines; in the lower jaw there are also a few longer ones, of the
same character as these last, interspersed at intervals. Tongue free
at its extremity, and, as well as the vomer and palatines, without
teeth. Eyes rather high in the cheek; their diameter about one-sixth
that of the head. The nostrils consist of two small round orifices a
little in advance of the eyes, the anterior one covered by a
membranous flap. Margin of the suborbital entire. Preopercle finely
denticulated on its ascending margin, which is vertical and slightly
convex; but the denticulations almost disappear at the angle, and
are not visible at all on the basal margin. Opercle triangular, with
three flat spines, the middle one longest, beyond which the membrane
projects in the form of an angular process to the distance of three
lines. Small scales on the cheeks and preopercle; but none on the
crown, snout, first suborbital, maxillary, or lower jaw; scales on
the opercle larger, equalling those of the body in size.
Gill-opening large, with the branchial membrane deeply notched in
the middle.
Lateral line following the curvature of the back at one-fourth of the
depth. Scales on the body moderately large: one taken from the
middle of the side above the lateral line is of a somewhat oblong
form, with the free edge rounded and finely ciliated; the basal
portion with fourteen slightly converging striæ, which form at the
hinder margin as many, but not very distinct, crenations.
The dorsal commences above the terminating lobe of the opercle, and
reaches to within a short space of the caudal: height of the spinous
portion, which, with the exception of the first two spines, is
nearly even throughout, about one-third of the depth; soft portion
rather higher, with the last two rays but one longest, and forming a
point backwards; all the soft rays branched. Anal commencing in a
line with the soft portion of the dorsal, and terminating a little
before that fin; three spines, the second one-third longer than the
first, and a little longer than the third, and much the strongest of
all; the soft portion of the anal is similar to that of the dorsal,
and terminates in like manner in a point behind. Space between the
anal and caudal a little less than one-sixth of the entire length.
The caudal appears to have been nearly even, or perhaps slightly
rounded, but the rays are worn. Rows of very minute scales, not very
obvious, between the rays of all the vertical fins. Pectorals
slightly rounded; more than half the length of the head; all the
rays with the exception of the first two and the last, branched.
Ventrals attached beneath, or perhaps a very little in advance of
the pectorals; pointed, with the second soft ray longest. No
lengthened scale or process of any kind in the axilla of either
ventrals or pectorals; neither are the former fastened to the
abdomen by a membrane half their own length, as is the case in many
of the _Serrani_.
COLOUR.—“Pale yellowish brown, with numerous transverse bars, of which
the upper part is reddish black, the lower vermilion red;
gill-covers, head, and fins, tinted with the same.”—D. Mr. Darwin
has not noticed some small round black spots surrounded by a white
border, and having an ocellated appearance, which are very evident
on the upper half of the soft portion of the dorsal: there is a
faint indication of similar spots on the anal and caudal.
Habitat, Chatham Island, Galapagos Archipelago.
[Illustration:
_Fish. Pl. 10._
_W. Hawkins del^t._
_Pristipoma cantharinum. Nat. Size._
]
Mr. Darwin obtained one specimen only of this new genus at Chatham
Island in the Galapagos Archipelago. It is probably not full-sized.