142 TWO NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



vomer, which is armed with a single series of acute, conical, 

 separated teeth, those at the apex and along the sides being of 

 moderate size, while the posterior tooth on each limb is similar to 

 the largest mandibulary teeth, and is directed Ixxckwards and 

 slightly outwards; palatine teeth in an acutely triangular patch 

 with the apex pointing forwards, and consisting of small, strong 

 teeth, with a central and three basal enlarged and conical ones. 

 The dorsal tubercle is situated immediately behind the base of the 

 pectoral; it does not pierce the skin, but is distinctly perceptible 

 to the finger-nail; the origin of the dorsal fin is above the middle 

 of the pectoral, and rather more than a diameter of the eye 

 behind the dorsal tubercle; its distance from the extremity of the 

 snout is 3| in the total length; the rays are very slender and but 

 little branched, of almost equal length throughout, those which 

 are inserted somewhat behind the middle of the fin being a little 

 the longest and about one-third of the length of the head: the 

 anal originates beneath the commencement of the middle third of 

 the dorsal, and is in all respects similar to that fin; the distance 

 between its origin and the tip of the snout is as long as its 

 distance from the base of the caudal fin: ventral inserted beneath 

 the hinder margin of the preopercle, not quite so long, the pectoral 

 half as long as the head: caudal fin truncate at the base, not 

 quite as long as the pectoral, with thirteen rays. 



Reddish-brown, the upper surface of the head and the vertical 

 fins rather darker; sides and lower surface of the head, the abdo- 

 minal region, and the paired fins yellowish-brown. 



The single example from which the diagnosis is taken was 

 picked up dead, but in a perfectly fresh condition, on the beach 

 at Maroubra by Mr. Whitelegge in May last, after a heavy gale, 

 and measures 80 millimeters. 



From the small size of the eyes, and the fact of their being 

 protected by a complete covering of skin, one is led to infer that 

 in its natural state this fish is accustomed to burrow in the sand 

 or mud for purposes of concealment, or perhaps as a means of 

 seeking food; a similar protective eyelid is present in heme. It 

 is prol)ably an inhabitant of the littoral zone or, at most, of 

 shallow water in the neighbourhood of the shore. 



