56 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Division XVII. NOTACANTHIFOEMES. 



Soft dorsal fin absent or quite rudimentary ; ventrals abdominal 

 composed of several articulated and unarticulated rays. 



Family XXXVIII. NOTACANTHI. 



Body elongate, covered with very small scales, snout protruding 

 beyond the mouth. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Dentition 

 feeble. Dorsal fin short, composed of short free spines ; anal 

 very long, anteriorly with many spines ; ventrals abdominal, 

 composed of more than five soft, and of several unarticulated, rays. 



Genus Notacanthus, Bl. 

 Characters the same as of the Family. 

 All Seas. 



653. Notacanthus sepspinis, Eichards. 



Vog. Erebus and Terror, p. 54, pi. 32, figs. 4-11. — Gunth., Cat. 



III., p. 545. 

 D. 6/1. A. 14/ ?. E. 13-14. V. 2/7. 



The ventral fins are completely united to each other, so as to 

 form but one fin, its base being before the vertical from the first 

 dorsal spine. A small forked jointed ray stands in the axil of 

 the last dorsal spine. 



King George's Sound. 



Order II. ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARYNGOGNATRI. 



The inferior pharyngeal bones are coalesced, with or icithout a median 

 longitudinal suture. Part of the rays of the dorsal, anal, and ventral 

 fins not articulated, forming spines. Air-bladder icithout pneumatic 

 duct. 



Family I. POMACENTKIDiE. 

 Body compressed, more or less short, covered with ctenoid scales. 

 Dentition feeble, palato smooth. The lateral line docs not extend 



