BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 141 



forwaixls so as to form a strong, compressed, tooth-like process, 

 into the curved base of which the rounded distal extremity of 

 the premaxillary fits; behind this process the maxillary bone 

 forms a gentle and even arc, of equal width throughout, the 

 extremity rounded and directed slightly upwards; the maxillary 

 extends to about one diameter behind the eye, and its length 

 from tip to tip is 14 in that of the head; the lower jaw is a little 

 shorter than the upper, and is provided with an inferior low 

 skinny flap, which extends entirely across its anterior border and 

 is pectinated at the edge; the mandibular bone reaches as far 

 back as the maxillary, along the inner surface of which it lies. 

 The anterior nostrils are small and circular, and are situated 

 rather close together on the edge of the maxillary and directly in 

 front of the posterior pair, which is much larger and subtriangular, 

 and opens immediately in advance of the eye; both are surrounded 

 by a loose, skinny, vesicular lip, which entirely conceals the 

 orifice. Eye very small, entirely covered by loose skin. Opercle 

 with a pair of stout, sharp spines; the upper one running in a 

 horizontal direction below its upper border; the lower rising from 

 the same base is directed downwai'ds and a little backwards; both 

 are entirely concealed beneath the loose skin, which is continuous 

 across the gill-covers, with the exception of the extreme tip of the 

 upper one which just pierces the skin. Twelve rudimentary, 

 tubercular gill-rakers, each of them crowned with a few short 

 acute serrai, on the lower branch of the anterior arch. The band 

 of villiform teeth on the premaxillaries is broad in front, but 

 rapidly decreases in width on the sides, about midway along 

 which it ceases; on each side of the symphysis anteriorly is a 

 small, acute, curved, canine-like tooth; the mandiljulary band is 

 much narrower than that of the premaxillaries, and does not 

 extend so far laterally; there are no enlarged teeth anteriorly at 

 the symph3'sis, but the inner series is considerabl}^ enlarged, 

 conical, and acute; the lateral dentition consists of seven (or 

 more) very strong, widely separated, caniniform teeth, which are 

 curved backwards and inwards, the largest teeth being about the 

 middle of the series; there is an angular ridge on the head of the 



