BY J. DOUGLAS-OGILBY, 227 



the middle of the orbit. Supraorbital with a single minute 

 anterior spine. Snout with numerous smooth ridges, which are 

 very faint on the interorbital space. A low, irregular, sometimes 

 double, ridge runs from a little behind the middle of the upper 

 margin of the orbit to the hinder edge of the cranium, and bears 

 a few small spines. A similar ridge along the upper edge of the 

 opercles terminates at the origin of the lateral line, and is also 

 spiniferous. Two moderately sized spines?, of which the vipper is 

 the more projecting, point forwards from the lower anterior angle 

 of each preorbital, behind which rise two prominent smooth 

 parallel ridges which terminate at the preopei'cular angle in strong 

 flattened spines, the lower of which is much the longer. Two 

 compressed opercular spines, almost hidden beneath the cuticle. 

 A short blunt spine on the suboperculum, which bears no flaps. 

 Anterior nostril with a short broad fringed tentacle. Lower jaw 

 the longer. Maxilla with a broad band of villiform teetb, and a 

 longitudinal row of three strong incurved canines, on either side 

 of the symphysis, the anterior being much the smallest. The 

 mandibular and palatine bands are much narrower, and are inter- 

 spersed with strong canines, pointing inwards, and placed at 

 regular intervals. A crescentic band of conical teeth on the head 

 of the vomer, the strongest on the outside. First dorsal spine 

 short and isolated ; the second the longest, 2^ in the length of 

 head ; soft dorsal highest anteriorly, nowhere so high as the 

 spinous. Pectoral short, | the length of head, eight lower rays 

 simple. Three inner rays of ventrals rather elongate, | of the 

 length of head, and reaching to second anal ray. Anal commences 

 beneath the third dorsal ray. Caudal short, truncated. Lateral 

 line smooth. 



Colours bright golden brown, except on the flat lower surface, 

 which, with the anal fin, is colorless. There are numerous small 

 bluish spots above the lateral line. Dorsals hyaline, the spines 

 and rays spotted with golden brown. Pectorals and ventrals 

 similarly spotted on a lead-coloured ground. Caudal with large 

 basal golden spots, and a broad dusky marginal band. 



