BY W. MACLEAY, F.L.S. 369 



Genus Peistipoma, Ciiv. 



Form of body oblong, compressed. 'Eye moderate. Cleft of 

 mouth horizontal, not very wide, a central groove below tlie chin. 

 One dorsal with eleven to fourteen spines ; anal fin with three ; 

 vertical fins not scaly or on the basal portions only. Villiform 

 teeth in the jaws without canines ; no teeth on the palate. Seven 

 branchiostegals. Prfeoperculum serrated ; operculum with very 

 indistinct points. Scales moderate, ctenoid. Pseudobranchi^e. 

 Air-bladder simple ; pyloric appendages in small number. 



All the temperate and tropical seas of the world. 



147. PmSTIPOMA HASTA, Bl. 



Gunth. Cat. Fishes I., p. 289. 



D. 12/14. A. 3/7-8. L. lat. 47. L. transv. 6/10. C^ec. pyl. 6. 



Height three to three and a-half in the total length, head about 

 equal to the height ; snout longer than the width of the eye. 

 Jaws equal, the maxillary reaches to below the anterior margin 

 of the orbit. Prseoperculum emarginate behind, its angle rounded, 

 produced and denticulated. The fourth dorsal spine longest, and 

 more than half the length of the head ; a deep notch between 

 the spinous and soft portion. Caudal fin truncate ; the second anal 

 spine very strong ; pectorals pointed, elongate. Back and upper 

 parts of the sides with brown spots, more or less regularly 

 arranged, sometimes forming longitudinal series, sometimes 

 cross-bars. The dorsal fin with two or three series of round, 

 brown spots. 



Torres Straits. South Coast of New Guinea. 



148. Peistipoma mactjlatum, Bl. 



Gunth. Cat. Fishes I., p. 293. Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Perc, pi. 30, f . 2. 



D. 12/13-14. A. 3/7. L. lat. 47. 



The proportions are the same as in P. J/asta, but the snout is 

 not longer than the eye. The fins also and armature of the 



