FISHES. MCfTI.Utcn. 143 



upper surface of the cranium is roughened with small granular 

 spines, the arrangement of which, together with the ridges, is 

 shown in the accompanying figure. Ridges on the upper surface 

 of the snout denticulated, and terminating in a cluster of spines 

 between the posterior nostrils. Preorbital with an indistinct 

 series of radiating ridges, from which the infraorbital one 

 extends backwards to the preopercular spine ; this is minutely 

 and evenly serrated along its whole length, and it projects out- 

 wards so as to overhang the cheek below it. Preoperculum with 

 3-5 spines, of which the upper is much the longest, and is equal 

 to about one half the length of the eye ; no antrorse spine, 

 Opercular ridges serrated, terminating in large spines. 



Both nostrils tubulai 1 , the anterior with a skinny tentacle ; no 

 supraocular tentacle. Teeth extremely minute, forming a broad 

 baud on the upper jaw and a narrow one on the lower. They 

 are a little larger on the palate, and are arranged in two widely 

 separated, parallel groups on the vomer, and a long narrow band 

 on each palatine. 



Body covered with rather large, coarsely ctenoid scales. On 

 the operculum and postorbital portion of the preoperculum they 

 are deeply imbedded and almost rudimentary. Lateral line 

 scales similar to, but smaller than the others, and the first 15-20 

 are armed with strong spines. 



Origin of the dorsal just behiud the end of the head : the 

 anterior spine is well developed, and the third is the longest. 

 The second ray is the highest, and may be either a little shorter 

 than, or longer than the longest spine; the following rays 

 gradually decrease in length. Anal originating a little behind, 

 and terminating well behind the second dorsal ; the rays are 

 subequal in length. The ventrals reach the base of the second 

 or third anal ray ; the spine is moderately strong, and the inner 

 ray is simple. Pectorals broadly rounded, reaching beyond the 

 middle of the first dorsal. Caudal slightly rounded. 



Colour hi formal in. Brownish above, with traces of the 

 usual dark cross-bands : some more or less definite spots on the 

 sides of the head and body. Dorsal and caudal fins with small 

 rounded spots which may be indistinct, the first dorsal with a 

 broad dusky margin. Pectorals and ventrals with striking dark 

 spots which coalesce into large blotches, and with broad white 

 margins. Anal white. 



Loc. Described from eight specimens, 50-116 mm. long, 

 trawled in Platypus Bay, Queensland, in 7-9 fathoms. The 

 smallest differs from the others only in having the head some- 

 what less rough between the ridges. They agree perfectly with 

 a specimen from Dr. Day's collection in the Australian Museum, 

 as well as with his description and figure. 



