514 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



bone, proe operculum, and operculum are serrated, tlie latter lias a 

 rather long spine, beneath, which are two shorter ones, over the 

 long spine is a rather deep indent, surmounted by a spine of 

 moderate length. Colour in spirits of a brilliant golden hue, with 

 the back greyish, the head and fins bright yellow. Average length 

 of specimens two and a-quarter inches. 



Torres Straits. 



Genus Holocentrum, Artedi. 



Muzzle moderate, cleft of mouth nearly horizontal, eye large. 

 Villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones. 

 Eight branchiostegals. Opercular and suborbital bones serrated, 

 operculum with two spines, prteoperculum with a large spine at 

 the angle. Scales moderate, ctenoid. Two dorsal fins scarcely 

 united ; ventrals with seven rays ; caudal forked ; anal with four 

 spines, the third very long and strong. Swim-bladder simple, 

 oval ; pyloric appendages in increased number. 



Tropical Seas. 



320. HoDocENTRUM RUBRUM, Forsk. 

 Gunth. Cat. Fishes I., p. 35 .— Bleek., Atl. Ichth. Trachich. pi. 3, f . 4. 



D. n/12-13. A. 4/9. L. lat. 35-37. L. transv. 3/6. Csec. 

 pylor. 20. Yert. 11/16. 



The height of the body is equal to the length of the head, 

 (opercular spine included) and three and a-half times in the total 

 length ; the space between the eyes is one-fifth of the length of 

 the head. The groove for the processes of the intermaxillary 

 much shorter than the diameter of the eye. Operculum with 

 two strong, prominent spines, the lower of which is the smaller. 

 The third, fourth, and fifth dorsal spines the longest ; the soft 

 dorsal fin rather higher than the spinous ; lobes of the caudal fin 

 equal ; the third anal spine very long and strong ; the ventrals 

 reach nearly to the anus and are rather longer than the pectorals. 



