OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 399 



azure blue ; tlie space where the caudal spine and the base of the 

 caudal fin are, of a brownish red ; the other fins yellow, sonae- 

 times rather orange. 



Several specimens procured in April and May. 



MONACANTHUS HIPPOCIIEPIS. 



Monacanthus hippocrepis, Qiwij and Gaim., Voy. Uranie, Zool., 

 p. 212. 



Aleuterius variahilis, Bichard, Ereh., and Terror, fishes, p. 67, 

 pi. hZ,fig. 1. 



Anal fin with less than forty rays ; (35) dorsal spine with four 

 series of barbs, the front series very close together; skin velvety; 

 generally four and sometimes six strong spines directed forward. 



Brown, with some reticulated lines of a darker colour, on the 

 back ; on the head oblique black stripes, which become of a fine 

 blue when near the eyes ; on the upper part of the head the 

 colour becomes yellow, with the stripes purple ; on each side of 

 the body there is a large yellow patch marbled with brown ; on 

 the tail there is a flesh-coloured patch, on which are the spines ; 

 caudal fin grey, with a transverse crescent of a fine brown ; 

 dorsal, a brilliant yellow with its base brown ; the other fins of a 

 fine yellow. 



Rather plentiful in the warm months ; usual size about thirteen 

 inches long. 



In May I obtained a female specimen, with rather dull colour- 

 ing and without caudal spines ; the upper profile of the snout is 



straight. 



Monacanthus rudis. 



Monacanthus rudis, Richard, Ereh. and Terror, fishes, p. 65, 

 pi. 40, fig. 7. 



Div. Anal fin with less than forty rays ; dorsal spine with four 

 series of barbs ; the front series being much closer together than 

 the back. 



Form oblong ; anterior profile of the head rather concave ; 

 body covered with short spinelets, having each three or four 

 points, which become smaller, and more crowded on the head 

 and tail ; ventral spine very small, not moveable ; the dorsal 



