Zoology.-] NATUKAL HISTOKY OF VICTOEIA. [FwAca. 



Plate 65, Fig. 1. 



PHYLLOPTERYX FOLIATUS (Shaw sp.). 

 The Leafy Sea-Dkagon. 



[Genus PHYLLOPTERYX (Swainson). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order 

 Lophobranchiata. Fam. Syngnathidse.) 



Gen. Char. — Body elongate, fusiform, much compressed, the back convexly arched to 

 opposite anal, and then forming a second dorsal convexity on tail from base of dorsal fin ; the 

 belly slightly concave ; neck-like, anterior portion long and slender ; head with a high com- 

 pressed occiput suddenly narrowing to the large orbit, beyond which is a long, more slender, 

 tubular snout, with the small jaws at the extremity directed obliquely upwards and forwards ; 

 tail long, slender, gradually tapering to a pointed posterior end, which is not prehensile. Pectoral 

 fin short, rounded ; anal fin very minute ; no caudal fin ; dorsal fin moderate. Flat spinulose 

 bones, bearing flat, ovate, leaf-like skinny appendages, arise from occiput nape, a pair from 

 middle of belly, and pairs at intervals on back of tail. Australia.] 



Description. — Head about 4^ to 4| in the total length -, from bind edg-e of oper- 

 culum to posterior edge of orbit one-fourth the length from hind edge of operculum 

 to tip of snout; height of head at occiput about Sg in total length of head; depth of 

 tubular snout two-thirds the diameter of orbit ; two strong spines diverge upwards, 

 outwards, and backwards from posterior half of upper edge of orbit, and one directed 

 outwards on each side in front of orbit; two minute spines on upper edge of snout, 

 considerably nearer to the eye than the tip, and two slender filaments (often united) 

 on under opposite side. Surface of operculum and preoperculum with fine radiating 

 ridges ; pectoral region behind operculum swollen conically, and with a lateral spine 

 on each side and several smaller ones below. Vertical skin-plates, 18 on body and 

 36 on tail, each with small spinulose tubercles at upper and lower ends, except the 

 upper ends of the 6th to the 17th, which are obtusely rounded and covered with 

 spinous granules ; body rings with a nearly median lateral row of small, conical 

 tubercles running into the lower caudal line at origin of tail ; a similar median row 

 begins on penultimate body segment, and continues on those of tail rather above 

 the middle to end of dorsal fin, when it forms the upper caudal row. The leaf- 

 bearing long spinulose bones are one short one on occiput, one twice as long on nape, a 

 pair still larger on 11th body ring, and from the 11th, 17th, 23rd, and a single one 

 on the 27th segment of tail ; and from the ventral edge of the 9th body segment a 

 short pair with leafy appendages like those above ; a much shorter and broader 

 pair without leafy appendages, but ending in several small spines, on dorsal 

 edge of the 1st caudal segment, and a similar pair on abdominal edge of penultimate 

 body segment. Coloi^ : (of figured specimen) of a greyish orange-fawn color, with 

 minute round yellowish-white spots (most conspicuous on head) ; head and snout 

 darker. The 9 first body segment have each a broad, vertical, ovate blue patch, 

 extending from above the middle to the ventral edge, the remaining body rings 

 having much smaller ones close to ventral edge ; iris silvery-white or yellow ; leafy 

 appendages dark olive-brown, with blue patches and reflections. Fin-rays : dorsal, 

 32 ; anal, 4 ; pectoral, 21 (the dorsal stands on last body plate, and six first caudal 

 plates). Length, 14 inches; from tip of snout to front edge of orbit, 2 inches 1 line ; 

 diameter of orbit, 4 lines ; from tip of snout to hind edge of operculum, 3 inches ; 

 to middle of base of pectoral, 3 inches 6 lines ; to base of tail, 7 inches 7 lines ; 

 greatest depth of body, 1 inch 4 lines ; greatest depth in front of midcile of snout, 

 2 lines; at base of tail, 8 lines; from tip of snout to origin of dorsal fin, 7 inches 

 5 lines ; length of dorsal, 1 inch 7 lines ; greatest length about middle of dorsal, 

 5 lines. 



[ 19] 



