6 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



to a more or less small fissure above the root of the pectoral. 

 Sis branchiostegals ; air-bladder and pseudobranckire present ; 

 pyloric appendages none. 

 Indian and Australian Seas. 



551. Petroscirtes variabilis, Cant. 

 Gunth., Cat. Fishes III., p. 234. 

 B. C. D. 28-31. A. 17-21. Vert. 12/23. 

 The height of the body is one-sixth of the total length, the 

 length of the head one-fifth. The snout is somewhat produced, 

 truncated in front. The canine teeth of the lower jaw very large, 

 those of the upper small. No orbital tentacle. The width of the 

 interorbital space is greater than the diameter of the eye, which 

 is one-fourth of the length of the head. The dorsal fin is not 

 elevated, commences on a line with the posterior margin of the 

 prasoperculum, and terminates at a short distance from the root 

 of the caudal. The two inner rays of the ventral fin equal in 

 length. Caudal fin with some of the upper and lower rays 

 prolonged. From the eye to the tail a broad blackish band ; 

 dorsal and anal fins spotted and clotted with black ; caudal some- 

 times with a black central spot. 



Port Jackson. 



552. Petroscirtes axolis, Cuv. & Val. 



Gunth., Cat. Pishes III., p. 238. 



D. 29. A. 22. 



Head elevoted into a high crest ; snout somewhat elongate ; 

 nve or six of the middle dorsal rays very elongate, filiform. 

 Greenish, with darker vertical linos ; head with some silvery 

 streaks ; cheek and base of the pectoral fin with a black spot ; 

 fins yellowish, dorsal blackish anteriorly, with numerous fine 

 oblique brown stripes. 



Port Jackson. 



