290 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



951. Syngnathus pcectlol^emus, Peters. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIII., p. 174. — Casteln., Proc. Zool. Soc, 

 Victoria, Vol. II., p. 78. 



D. 28. Osseous rings 20 4- 49. 



Operculum with, a straight ridge. Snout nearly twice as long 

 as the postorbital part of the head. A low ridge along the median 

 line of the snout and of the crown of the head and neck ; supra- 

 orbital edge continued into a feeble ridge on the side of the crown. 

 Shields without spines. Tail more than twice as long as the 

 trunk. Dorsal hn occupying the anal and six caudal rings. 

 Lower side of the head with dark spots ; body with very small 

 ocellated dots. 



South Australia. 



952. SYNGNATnus curtirostris, Casteln. 



Proc. Zool. Soc, Victoria, Vol. II., p. 79. 



D. 20. Osseous rings 18 4- -42. 



The length of the snout is contained twice in the rest of the 

 head and is once and a half the diameter of the orbit. Head 

 one-twelfth of the total length. The snout has a strong 

 longitudinal ridge on its upper part, and a feeble one on each 

 side ; the operculum is covered with deep, punctured, radiating 

 stria), with its upper edge elevated like a curved ridge ; but no 

 longitudinal ridge on its surface. The body is quadrilateral, 

 with a faint ridge on each side, extending to the vent ; on the 

 first rings of the tail there is an oblique ridge, which runs into 

 the upper edge on the fifth ring. The dorsal fin occupies the 

 first five tail rings ; the caudal is longer than the two last tail 

 rings, is rounded and formed of six rays. Colour (in spirits) 

 dark brown, with irregular silvery spots on the lower part of the 

 head and the first few segments of the body ; these spots are 

 surrounded by a dark line ; the pectoral and dorsal fins are of a 



