DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW OR RARE AUSTRALIAN 

 FISHES. 



By E. Pierson Ramsay, F.R.S.E., and J. Douglas-Ogilby. 



Pteroplatea australis. sp. nov. 



Disk rather less than twice as wide as long ; tail three-eighths of 

 the length of the disk, without spine or rudimentary fin, but with 

 faint indications of a cutaneous fold above and below. Spiracle 

 provided with a tentacle. Teeth with a long median and two 

 short lateral cusps. Skin smooth. Dark-brown, almost black 

 above ; white beneath ; tail with two interrupted white rings about 

 midway. 



This fine species, belonging to a genus hitherto unknown from 

 Australia, was forwarded some years ago by Mr. J. Brown from 

 Cape Hawke, N. S. "Wales, and measures twenty-three inches 

 across the disk. 



It is possible that this may be identical with the Mediterranean 

 P. altavela, but in the absence of books of reference it is impossible 

 to settle the question satisfactoi'ily owing to the insufficient descrip- 

 tion given in the British Museum Catalogue. 



Registered number in the Australian Museum A. 9357. 



Cirriiitichthys aprinus, C. (k V. 



B. VI. D. 10/12-13. A. 3/6-7. V. 1/5. P. 7/7 or S/G" 

 0. 15. L. lat. 42. L. trans. 4/11. 



Length of head rather more than 4, of caudal fin 5 J, height of body 

 2| in the total length. Diameter of eye \ of the length of the 

 head, and ^ of that of snout. Interorbital space concave, from § to 

 f of the diameter of eye. Cleft of mouth oblique. Maxilla reaches 

 to the vertical from anterior margin of eye. Preorbital and post- 

 temporal serrated. Vertical limb of preopercle strongly serrated ; 



