92 NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



eye* ; interorbital region slightly concave. Mouth large, with 

 oblique cleft, which extends to the vertical from the anterior 

 margin of the pupil; the premaxillaries are but little protractile; 

 they form the entire dentigerous portion of the upper jaw; the 

 lateral portion is equally slender throughout and does not extend 

 backwards so far as the maxillary, which is narrow and feeble, 

 only the extreme distal portion being slightly expanded anrl 

 spatuliform and reaching to the vertical from the posterior margin 

 of the pupil; its length being a half of that of the head; lower 

 jaw included; the chin with a median barbel, which extends 

 when laid back to the isthmus. 



Tn front of the eye there is a deep pyriform depression which 

 is narrowest forwards, along the inner side of which the anterior 

 and larger nostril opens, while the posterior is pierced along its 

 orbital face and further out than the other. Ej^e very large and 

 prominent, encroaching upon the upper surface of the head and 

 extending downwards over three-fifths of its side; all the bones of 

 the orbital ring more or less prominent, but especially in front 

 and behind the eye. The upper border of the opercle bears a 

 conspicuous ridge which terminates in a feeble spine which i.; 

 concealed beneath the skin and is scarcely perceptible; the entire 

 surface of the bone is ornamented witli radiating strite, the 

 extremities of which form a distinct though weak marginal 

 serrature Eight gill-rakers on the lower l)ranch of the anterior 

 arch, the longest at the angle and one-fourth of a diameter of the 

 eye in length; the last two are very small and the front half of 

 the arch is quite smooth. 



The first dorsal fin originates well behind the base of the 

 pectorals, its distance from the extremity of the snout being 3^^ 

 in the total length; the first ray is rather short, the others slender 

 and more or less elongated, the fifth the longest, half the length 

 of the head; there is a moderate interspace between the dorsal 

 fins, which does not appear to have been occupied by membrane; 

 the second dorsal commences a little behind the vertical from the 



* In its contour it has a perceptible resemblance to some of tlie Mur;eni(ls. 



