BY ALLAN B. MCCULLOCli. 467 



Htpkabci-; subxigra Dumeril. (PI. sxsviii., figs. 3-4). 

 Nicmbfish. 



Ilypnos siih>iiriruni, Dumoril, Kov. Mag. ZooL. iv., 1852, p. 279, PI. xii., and 

 Hist. Nat. Poiss., i., 2, 1865, p. 520; Guiithcr, Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., viii., 

 1870, p. 453; Madeav. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vi., 1881, p. 374, and 

 vii., 1882, p. 12; Woods, Fish & Fisher. N.S. Wales, 1882, p. 100; Haswell, 

 Proe. Liiui. See. N.S. Wales, ix., 1884, p. 104, PI. xi., figs. (3-9 (skeleton) ; 

 Ogilbv, Cat. Fish. N.S. Wales, 188(5, p. 5; Fritsch, Elektrisch. Fische., ii-, 

 1890,"p. — , and Sitzb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1895. pt, xxi., p. 423; Howes, 

 Proc. Zuol. Soc, 1890, p. 669, PI. Ivii. (visceral anatomy) ; Waite. Mem. 

 Austr. Mus., iv., 1, 1899, p. 42, and Mem. N.S. Wales Nat. Club, ii., 1904, 

 p. 10; Zietz, Tr. Roy. Soo. S. Austr., xxxii., 1908, p. 292; Ogilby, Mem. 

 Qld. Mus., v., 1910, p. 83, and vi., 1918, p. 104. 



Hypnarce subniyra, Waite, Rec. Austr. Mus., iv., 1902. ji. 180; Garraan, Mem. 

 Mus. Comp. Zool., xxxvi., 1913. p. 304. 



Skin perfectly smooth, flesh soft and flabby. The width of the pectoral 

 disc is subequal to its length. Anterior margin of the snout thick and almost 

 straight, a slight notch at its junction with the pectoral on each side; pectoral 

 margins evenly curved and tliin. Ventrals much longer than broad, united 

 lielow the tail, and together forming a disc which is broader than long; claspers 

 reaching a little beyond their margins. The distance between tlie eyes and the 

 anterior margin is equal to about twice the widtli of the interocular space. 

 Spiracles directly behind and slightly larger than the eyes, their margins sur- 

 rounded by coarse papillae. Moutli forming three parts of a circle, its front 

 margin a. trifle in advance of that of the eyes; its width is less than the preoral 

 length. Nostrils with thick raised margins which form narrow lobes posteriorly; 

 nasoral valve S(|uare cut, its posterior margin sinuous. Posterior gill-opening 

 behind tlie middle of the pectoral disc Each jaw with a broad band of small 

 flattened and acutely tricuspid teeth, the median cusp of which is much longer 

 than the others. Dorsals leaf-like, the first commencing well before the centre 

 of the ventral disc, and not mu(;h smaller than the second which is immediately 

 behind it. Caudal as broad as long, rounded, and just overhanging the margin 

 of the ventral disc. Tan-brown above, white below. 



Described and figured from a beautifully jireserved specimen, 353 mm. long, 

 from off Cape Hawke. 



Variation. — Eight specimens 120-440 mm. long, exhibit but little variation. 

 The relative size of the doi'sal fins is a little variable, the first l>eing sometimes 

 markedly smaller than the second, and the eyes are sometimes a little nearer 

 the end of the snout than in the specimen described. The general proportions 

 of all appear to be very similar. Most are light brown in colour on the upper 

 surface, but the smallest specimen has small light spots closely distributed over 

 the back, while two others are darker, one being almost chocolate l)rown above. 



Hahits. — In Septembei'. 1919, T saw a living female of this species in 

 shallow water at Port Stephens. New South Wales, which was aliout twenty 

 inches long, and of ,a clear tan colour above and white below. When disturbed 

 it buried itself with great rapidity beneath tlie sand, and though only covered 

 by a few inches of water, completely hid itself from view. In throwing it out 

 onto the beach with a wet board, T received a shar]i shock which resembled a 

 blow on the bicejis. After stranding it, I and others received about fifty suc- 

 cessive shocks in a space of about ten minutes before we killed it by severing 

 its spine. The shocks were intense at first though not painful, and could be felt 

 through one's whole body, but they gradually became weaker: the last dis- 



