286 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Genus Pegasus, L. 



Body broad, much, depressed. Pectoral fins horizontal, broad, 

 long, composed of simple rays, some of which are sometimes 

 spinous. Ventral fins one or two-rayed, the outer ray being 

 long. Upper part of the snout j)roduced into a longer or 

 shorter process. Mouth inferior, toothless. Suborbital ring well 

 developed, forming a suture with the gill-cover. Intestinal 

 tract rather short with one or two complete circumvolutions. 

 Vertebrae not numerous, thin ; ribs none. 



Indian and Australian Seas. 



945. Pegasus nataxs, L. 



Gunth., Cat. Pishes, VIIL, p. 148. 



D. 5. A. 5. P. 11. V. 3. Vert. 7 -f- 14. 



Tail (without caudal fin) as long as, or longer than, the body 

 to the end of the snout. Tail composed of twelve rings, tapering 

 and very much flattened behind. Eidges on the upper side of 

 the body obtuse, without tubercles ; shields uniformly finely 

 granulated. Pectoral rays equally slender. Snout prolonged 

 into a long flat sword-like process, truncated in front and 

 denticulated on the side, the teeth directed backwards. Tail 

 with broad brown cross-bands, one below the dorsal being the 

 most constant. Dorsal and pectoral fins with brown spots. 



Moreton Bay. Torres Straits. 



946. Pegasus laxcifer, Kaup. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIIL, p. 149. 



D. 5. A. 5. P. 15. V. 2. 



Tail (without caudal fin) much longer than the body to the 

 end of the snout, composed of fourteen or fifteen rings, of which 

 the six posterior are more or less confluent, much depressed, tape- 

 like. Tho trunk is broad, exceedingly depressed, nearly flat 

 above, with narrow vertical sides. The dorsal ridges are usually 



