370 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGtTE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



operc"'es are alike in tlie two species. There is a large black 

 cross-band before tlie dorsal fin, and six large blotches on each 

 side of the back, forming either two longitudinal rows or three 

 cross-bands ; the spinous dorsal is blackish, with a series of white 

 spots along the base ; the soft dorsal has two series of brown spots. 



Torres Straits (Voy. of the " Eattlesnake.") 



Genus Diagramma, Cuv. 



Body compressed, oblong, with the upper profile of the head 

 parabolic. Mouth small, horizontal. Eye moderate. Prseoper- 

 culum serrated ; suborbitals without spines. Six or seven 

 branchiostegals. No canine teeth. Four or six pores under the 

 mandibles, but no larger groove. One dorsal fin with nine to 

 fourteen spines ; anal with three. Scales rather small. Swim- 

 bladder simple ; pyloric appendages in small number. 



In all temperate and tropical seas. 



149. Diagramma affoe, Gunth. 



Cat. Fishes I., p. 319, pi. 19. fig. a. 



D. 14/16. A. 3/7. L. lat. 45. L. transv. 9/16. 



Height of body two and a-half times in the total length, length 

 of head three times and two-fifths ; the distance between the 

 dorsal and caudal fins is less than the height of the tail below 

 the end of the dorsal. Dorsal fin notched, with strong spines, the 

 fourth the longest ; the second anal spine much longer and 

 stronger than the third. Caudal fin slightly convex. Uniform 

 brownish, the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins black. 



North-west Australia. 



150. Diagramma crassilabre. All. & Macl. 

 Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, Vol. I., p. 271, pi. 5, f. 5, 

 South coast of New Guinea. 



