the Ichthyology of Australia. 17-3 



one, and is equal to one- third of the total length of the fish. The 

 regular curve of the forehead corresponds with the part of the back 

 on which the soft dorsal is set. There is no gibbosity either before 

 or behind the eye, and the space between the eyes is convex trans- 

 versely as well as longitudinally, its breadth being increased by the 

 projection of the edge of the orbit at its anterior angle. The con- 

 vex scaroid intermaxillary projects a little from the general curve of 

 the head. 



The length of the head is rather more than one-fifth of the total 

 length, or exactly one-fourth when the caudal is excluded. There 

 are about fifteen teeth in each intermaxillary, and one more in each 

 limb of the lower jaw. The upper teeth are notched at the tip, one 

 point being larger, lanceolate and denticulated ; the other point, 

 shorter and standing at the shoulder of the other, is concealed by 

 the integument when in situ. The lower teeth are also notched, but 

 the points are scarcely so acute, and the larger one does not exceed 

 the other so much. They are also irregularly denticulated. There 

 are two frontal ridges, which are visible in the dried specimen, to- 

 gether with a faint indication of a mesial one, which must be quite 

 imperceptible in a recent fish. The hind head is marked, over the 

 posterior angle of the eye, with short winding lines, forming a sort 

 of rustic-work, and there are also some ridges and pits on the pre- 

 orbitar and two following bones of the chain. The projecting an- 

 terior edge of the orbit shows faint crenatures under a lens. The 

 posterior half of the cheek is minutely scaly. The limbs of the 

 preoperculum meet at an acute angle, and the upper limb is nearly 

 twice the length of the lower one ; the corner is scarcely rounded, 

 and lies under the anterior quarter of the orbit. The surface of the 

 bone is marked by irregular branching streaks and ridges, as is like- 

 wise the operculum down to its lower third, which, with the inter- 

 operculum and suboperculum, is smooth. The bones of the humeral 

 chain are finely and deeply striated. The gill- opening extends for- 

 wards beyond the angle of the preoperculum. 



Rays:— D. 13110; A. 7|9 ; C. 17J ; P. 15 ; V. 2]3. 



The pectoral has an oblique edge and rounded tip, and measures 

 about one-fifth of the total length. The dorsal contains thirteen 

 spines exclusive of the anterior couchant one. The first spine, as in 

 the other species, touches the base of the second one, and is upwards 

 of one-third shorter than the rest, which differ little from each other 

 in height, the eighth, however, being the tallest, and the others de- 

 creasing very gradually each way. The spines are transversely com- 

 pressed, with lateral sharp edges and acute tapering points. They 

 lie alternately to the right and left when recumbent, and the mem- 

 brane is attached to the alternate edges. Each of them is deeply 

 impressed by two, or even three, longitudinal furrows. The arti- 

 culated portion of the fin is rounded, its middle rays being highest 

 and overtopping the spines. The anal is similarly formed. The 

 caudal fin when fully spread is lunate on the margin, the depth of 

 the arc being about one-third of the length of the central rays. The 

 height of the trunk of the tail is one -fifth of that of the body. The 



