BY E. P. RAMSAY, F.R.S.K., AND J. DOUGLAS-OGILHY. 5 



first dorsal ray, and terminates beneath the eighth : caudal elongate, 

 pointed. Anal papilla small. The colors appear to have been 

 yellowish-brown, the head and fins being darkest. 



The specimen measures three and a half inches, and was obtained 

 by Mr. Brazier beneath a stone between tide marks on the Bottle 

 and Glass Reef, Port Jackson, during last November. When it 

 came into our hands it was unfortunately almost denuded of scales, 

 whence the difficulty of determining with certainty the numbers 

 on the lateral and transverse lines. Its registered number is 

 B. 9,758. 



MONACANTHUS MOSAICUS. sp. 710V. 



D. 35-36: A. 32-34: P. 13: C. 12. 



Length of head 3 J, of caudal fin 4^, height of body 1| in the 

 total length. Eyes situated far back on the head, three diameters 

 from the end of the snout, and one apart. Gill-opening oblique, 

 reaching but little below the upper angle of the base of the pectoral, 

 and equal to a diameter of the orbit, beneath the middle of which 

 it is placed. Teeth with strong sharp angular points at intervals. 

 Upper profile of snout rather concave ; back between the dorsals 

 straight, and with a gradual rise to the origin of the second dorsal. 

 The dorsal spine commences above the anterior third of the eye ; 

 it is moderately strong, curved backwards, and bears four series of 

 small barbs, the anterior pair being close together : soft dorsal and 

 anal low, the longest rays being in the first quarter. Ventral 

 spine very short, fixed ; pectorals situated directly beneath the 

 eyes ; caudal rounded. Skin velvety. Colors, red with anasto- 

 mosing blue lines on the head and body ; some of the upper spaces 

 so formed have a large central spot of umber brown ; caudal 

 brownish . 



The description has been taken from two specimens measuring 

 respectively 4§ and 4 inches, which were trawled off Shark Reef, 

 Port Jackson, on the 9th instant. Registered numbers B. 9754-5. 



