274 DESCRIPTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



ing a short tube, terminated by six long cylindrical filaments, 

 which overhang the mouth. Orbital tentacle large, with more 

 or less numerous lobes. Head with several series of muciferous 

 canals and open pores surrounding the eye, and extending along 

 the margin of the preorbital and preoperculum, and the lower 

 jaw; others cross the nape and join the lateral line. Teeth con- 

 sisting of a single row of larger canines on the upper jaw, fol- 

 lowed by two patches of villiform teeth anteriorly. They are 

 similarly arranged on the lower jaw, but the lateral canines are 

 much stronger, and the villiform patches smaller. Two broad 

 patches of villiform teeth on the vomer which are united on the 

 median line. Palatines toothless. 



Body covered with minute rudimentary scales which extend 

 forward to the base of the first dorsal spine; head naked. Lateral 

 line nearly straight from the operculum to a point above the end 

 of the pectoral; thence it curves downward to the middle of the 

 body, and extends to the base of the tail. Anteriorly, the tubes 

 and pores are large and close together, but they become smaller 

 and widely spaced behind. 



First dorsal situated about midway between the eye and the 

 posterior margin of the preoperculum, or a little nearer the latter; 

 its spines are subequal, and the membrane from the last extends 

 about one-third up the first spine of the second dorsal. The 

 latter is inserted above the hinder end of the operculum, and is 

 about two-thirds as long as the second spine of the first dorsal; 

 the following spines increase gradually in length to the last, 

 which is much shorter than the rays. Rays equally spaced, the 

 last united to the caudal peduncle or the base of the caudal rays. 

 Anal similar in form to the dorsal, but the membrane deeply 

 excised between the rays; the last is not connected with the 

 caudal peduncle. Pectoral broadly rounded; the ninth ray 

 longest, reaching the verticle of the first anal spine or not so far. 

 Ventrals with three simple rays, the median one the longest. 

 Caudal rounded. 



Colour. — Pale yellow, with or without nine more or less dis- 

 tinct cross-bars, the first of which largely covers the head, and 

 the last is on the caudal fin. These are wholly lost in one speci- 



