o22 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Skin velvety, without distinct scales. Shape oblong, the 

 height of the body being a little less than one-third of its 

 length (without caudal), or two-sevenths of the total length. 

 Snout long, the distance of the eye from its end being contained 

 thrico and four-fifths in the length of the bod} r ; upper profile 

 very convex. Gill-opening below and partly in advance of the 

 eye. Boot of the pectoral fin beneath the hinder part of the 

 orbit. Dorsal spine long and slender, situated above the hinder 

 part of the eye, its length being contained once and a half in 

 the depth, of the body and in the length of the head ; four rows 

 of very small barbs, the two anterior close together, all being 

 rather indistinct. Caudal fin with the margin rounded. Dorsal 

 and anal fins higher anteriorly than posteriorly. Ventral spine 

 small, fixed. Colour brownish-black, with two whitish bands 

 across the chin. Dorsal spine and caudal fin black ; the other 

 fins light-coloured. 



Tasmania. Length fourteen inches. 



B. Dorsal spine with two series of barbs. 



1015. MoN ACANTHUS ChINENSIS, Bl. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIIL, p. 236.— Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Balist., 



p. 125, pi. 222, fig. 2. 



Syn. M. geographicus, Cuv. & Casteln. Ees. Pishes of Aust., p. 50. 



D. 28. A. 28-29. Vert. 7/11. 



Scales exceedingly small and rough, each with a median crest 

 which sometimes terminates in a spine. On each side of the 

 tail six spines directed forwards and disposed in two rows ; they 

 are scarcely visible in young specimens or females. Body 

 elevated, its depth being contained from once and a half to once 

 and three-fourths in the length without caudal fin ; the upper 

 profile rises from the dorsal spine to the origin of the soft dorsal 

 fin, which is the highest part of the back. Snout pointed, with 

 the upper profile concave. Dorsal spine strong, shorter than the 



