92 " ENDEAVOUR " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



Centriscops humerosus, McCulloch, Zool, Results " Endeavour," 

 i., pt. 1, 1911, p. 24, fig. 9, and pi. v. Id., Waite, Rec. 

 Cantb. Mus., i., pt, 3, 1911, p. 169 (not of Richardson). 



D. vi-vii. 15-16; A. 17-19; P. 16-17 ; V.I.4; C. 9. Head 

 1.93-2,27 in the length to the hypnral ; height, in front of the 

 venti-als, 2.46-2.11 in the same. Eye 3.75-6.11 in the head, and 

 2.12-4 in the snout, which is 1.76-1.50 in the head. Second 

 dorsal spine 1.42-3.58, caudal fin 2.72-2 88 in the head. Inter- 

 orbital space 1.6-1.3 in the eye. 



All the exposed bones of the head are finely striated, and the 

 skin is covered with extremely minute longitudinal scales. The 

 snout is directed slightly upwards. A striated bony ridge 

 passes along the snout to the upper orbital margin, where it 

 spreads out into a fan-shaped bone ; it is followed by a series of 

 small, roughened bones, which extend over the upper border of 

 the preoperculum, and which are broader and less distinct than 

 in Ceiitriscops humerosus. A second ridge passes below the nostrils 

 to the front edge of the eye, and forms the lower orbital border. 

 The nostrils are placed close together in a smooth area, a little in 

 advance of the eye. 



The profile of the back arises in front of the eye, and ascends 

 rapidly to a point above the operculum, where, in young 

 specimens, it forms a slight angle, and then runs almost straight 

 to the dorsal spine. In adults, this point is marked by a crest of 

 stout bristles, behind which tlie profile rises still higher before 

 timiing towards the spine. The back is never greatly humped as 

 in C. humerosus. The ventral profile forms a more or less even 

 curve between the snout and the caudal peduncle. In front of 

 the ventrals its edge is very sharp, and is formed of five bony 

 scutes which are almost hidden in the skin in all but the 

 smallest specimens ; the posterior sciite ends in a spine or 

 several spinules. A ridge is present on either side of the median 

 line, which extends backwards to the end of the ventral fin ; its 

 postei'ior scutes are armed with spines. Two or three more 

 scutes are on the median line between the tips of the ventrals and 

 the vent. 



The scales covering the body are exceedingly fine and velvety, 

 though they are proportionately larger in the young than in the 

 adults ; they cannot be distinguished from one another as in 

 C. humerosus. There are two series of bony plates on the sides 

 of the back above the pectoral fin, the upper consisting of four 

 plates and the lower of three ; these are smaller, and more 

 oblique than in Richardson's species, and there is no sign of any 

 smaller ones on either side of the profile of the back. 



