PISHES. MCCULLOCH. 195 



Family CALLIONYMID.E. 

 CALLIONYMUS Linne. 



Key to the Australian Species. 



A. Preopercular spine almost straight and spear-like, with a 

 row of spinules above and an antrorse barb below. 



Subgenus Calliurichthys. 

 B. AH but the posterior dorsal rays simple; 9 dorsal and 



8-9 anal rays. 



C. Interorbital space a narrow bony ridge; head less 

 than one-third of length to hypural joint. 



japonicus. 



D. Occiput with two lateral rugosities only. 



var. typica. 



DD. Occiput with two lateral and one median 

 rugose areas. var. scofter. 



CC. Interorbital space narrow but grooved. 



E. Head less than a third of length to hypural 



joint; preopercular spine with fine denticula- 

 tions above. 



F. Snout but little longer than eye; upper 



lip projecting beyond preorbitals when 



mouth is closed. grossi. 



FF. Snout much longer than eye; preorbitals 



overhanging the upper lip when mouth 



is closed. nasutus. 



EE. Head more than a third of length to hypural 



joint; preopercular spine with coarse spines 



above. belcheri. 



BB. All the dorsal rays are bifurcate; 8 dorsal and 7 anal 



rays. Interorbital space concave; preopercular spine 



with fine denticulations above. rameus. 



AA. Preopercular spine with its distal extremity curved upward, 



and having one or more large hooks above ; lower antrorse 



barb present or absent. Subgenus Callionymus. 



G. A broad membrane uniting inner ventral ray with base 



of pectoral and covering bases of lower pectoral rays; 



head and body depressed. 



H. Lower antrorse barb of preopercular spine present; 

 dorsal rays mostly simple. 



I. Preopercular spine with only two distal hooks. 

 J. Eye as long as snout. lunatus. 

 JJ. Eye shorter than snout. limiceps. 



K. Occiput and supraorbital ridges rough 

 with bony granules. var. typica. 



KK. Occiput and supraorbital ridges more 

 or less smooth. var. subl&vis. 



II. Preopercular spine with 3-5 recurved hooks 



above. 



L. First dorsal spine not longer 



than second. 



M. Occiput smooth, entirely 

 covered by skin, calcaratus. 

 MM. Occiput rugose, with reticu- 

 lating bony ridges. 



