BY W. MACLEAY, F.L.S. 323 



head, inserted above the posterior half of the eye, and armed 

 behind with a double series of strong recurved spines. Caudal 

 tin rounded, rather shorter than the head ; old males with the 

 upper caudal ray slightly produced. Ventral spine moveable, 

 tapering, without spinelets, attached to the cutaneous ventral 

 expansion, which is much developed, extending beyond the spine. 

 Dorsal and anal fins moderately elevated, the sixth or seventh 

 rays being the longest, about half as long as the head. Brownish, 

 irregularly marbled with blackish, and the whole body or part 

 of it with numerous small brown spots. Vertical fins crossed by 

 series of small black dots or lines. 



North-west Coast of Austi'alia. 



1016. Mon acanthus megalurus, Eichards. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIII., p. 237. — Casteln. Proc. Linn. Soe. 

 N.S. Wales, Vol. III., p. 398. 



M. Chimnsis, Eichards. Voy. Erebus and Terror, p. G4, pi. 40, 



figs. 3-4. 



D. 32. A. 31. 



The description of the previous species, M. chinensis applies in 

 every particular to the present species excepting that the scales 

 are larger and the dorsal spine more slender. The coloration is 

 given by Count Castelnau in Vol. III., of our Proceedings floe. cit.J 



Port Jackson, Freycinet's Harbour. 



1017. Monacanthus tomentosus, L. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIII., p. 238.— Bleek., Atl. Ichth. Balist., 



p. 127, pi. 220, fig. 1. 



D. 27-29. A. 25-27. 



Scales exceedingly small, each with four or five spines on the 

 margin ; on each side of the tail an oblong patch of short setiform 

 spines, well developed in adult males, but very small or entirely 

 absent in females and young. Body sometimes with scattered, 



