FISHES. MCCULLOOII. 213 



Occipital region flat, quadrate, and granular; interorbital 

 space with a deep median groove, which runs into a ridge 

 extending forward on the median line of the snout. A 

 ridge on each side from before the eye to the base of each 

 rostral process. A suborbital ridge forms a sharp angle 

 posteriorly. Operculum wth a transverse ridge pro- 

 jecting backward as a strong spine. Lateral margin of 

 the head sharp, granular, and sinuous ; a few denticles are 

 present on each side of the snout, which are followed by 

 a series of lobes ; preopercular angle forming an expanded 

 lobe, without a spine. Jaws toothless; maxillary not 

 nearly reaching the vertical of the anterior margin of 

 the eye. Lower lip with many simple tentacles which 

 are shorter than the diameter of the eye, and a long 

 branched process on each side which reaches the vertical 

 of the anterior edge of the orbit. 



A single plate on the back before the dorsal tin, 

 which is armed with a spine at each hinder angle ; behind 

 this are thirty dorsal scutes each bearing a spine, of 

 which those on the caudal peduncle are indistinct and 

 the last two at the base of the tail are largely developed. 

 Lateral line consisting of simple pores upon thirty-six 

 scutes, beginning at the shoulder and curving sharply 

 downward to the middle line of the body; the first three 

 scutes are small, and form a horizontal row ; twenty-four 

 or twenty-five scutes are armed with a single spine, pro- 

 jecting backward, but about ten on the side of the tail 

 are provided with an anterior as well as a posterior 

 spine. The spines of the sub-lateral row are well 

 developed, but those of the ventral series are obsolete 

 except anteriorly. Abdomen with two pairs of large 

 plates, which are provided with ridges on each side; a 

 pair of plates meets on the median line behind the vent, 

 and those of a second pair just touch in advance of the 

 first anal ray. No extra series below the caudal 

 peduncle. Vent with a minute papilla. 



Anterior dorsal rounded, joined by membrane to the 

 base of the first ray. Second dorsal highest anteriorly, 

 and formed entirely of simple rays. Anal commencing a 

 trifle behind the origin of the second dorsal, and terminat- 

 ing a little in advance of its last ray ; the rays are highest 

 anteriorly and simple. Pectoral rounded, reaching back- 

 ward to the level of the first anal ray; the fifth ray is 

 longest, and the median ones are bifurcate. The upper 



