14 



supra-scapular and humeral bones, and the upper edge of 

 the membrane is concave, as is usual with the Scorpienm, 

 TrhjUv, &c. 



The gill-opening is ample, extending from the point of 

 the supra-scapular obliquely forwards to the throat. The 

 membrane is sustained by six roughish, slender raj's. Its 

 width is equal to the length of the gill-cover, and its at- 

 tachment to the isthmus is opposite to the hinder part of 

 the orbit. The bones of the humeral chain are partially 

 rough. The large rounded pectorals are remarkably ses- 

 sile, having no pedicle whatever. They contain twenty 

 rays, exclusive of a short adnate one above, all of which 

 are more or less forked. The connecting membrane is 

 delicate. The ventrals are attached well before the pec- 

 torals. Their first three jointed rays are thickened at the 

 tips, and with the shorter spinous ray are enveloped in 

 thick integument. The two last rays are branched as 

 usual. The first dorsal, high and triangular, is supported 

 by slender rays, which are partially roughened by acute 

 grains. The second and third rays are the tallest, and 

 exceed the height of the body. Its first ray stands over 

 the tip of the gill-cover, and a little behind the ventrals. 

 The second dorsal, which is lower, longer, and even, is 

 supported by thirty-five setaceous rays, covered by rough 

 integument. The rays appear to be'simple, but, on close 

 examination, they were all found to be jointed, and to 

 have a dark line down their middles. The space between 

 the fir.st and second dorsals is equal to about two-thirds 

 of the base of the former. The anal fin has much resem- 

 blance to that of a Traclunus. It is supported by thirty 

 jointed rays, whose tips are free, and it has no spine. It 

 commences beneath the seventh ray of the second dorsal, 

 and reaches a little beyond that fin. The caudal, which 

 is rather small, and even at the end, contains twenty-three 

 rays, viz., eleven of the full length, and the rest graduated 

 above and below. 



The lateral line runs parallel to the back, and very near 

 it, and is armed by eighty-three small saddle-shaped 

 shields to midway between the end of the second dorsal 

 and the base of the caudal. It is there interrupted, the 

 short lower portion commencing a little further forward, or 

 opposite to the end of the anal fin, and ending at the base 

 of the caudal, between the two middle rays. This part is 

 armed by twelve shields, making ninety-five in all. All the 

 shields are rough, and they diminish gradually, as they 

 recede from the shoulder. On the middle line of the side, 

 where the muscles decussate, there are four or five round 

 shields, of a similar structure, placed at irregular distances, 

 and varying in size and number in different specimens. 

 There are no other scales. 



The ground colour of a specimen preserved in spirits is 

 purplish-brown, varied by numerous round, or oblong, 

 anastomosing dark spots. The under surface of the fish, 

 including the anal fin, is pale yellow, or white. The 

 other vertical fins, and the pectorals, have leaden coloured 

 membranes, with dark rays. The ventrals are partially 

 dark. 



The stomach is moderately large, and of an ovoid form, 

 the fundus being obtuse. An ascending branch, having 

 about a quarter of the capacity of the body of the stomach, 

 separates from it at its upper third. The walls are thick, 



and, together with the short oesophagus, are coarsely plaited 

 interiorly. Close beneath the narrow pylorus there are 

 two wide, short C£eca, the lower of which is twice as long 

 as the one which rises from the upper side of the gut. The 

 canal is wide near the stomach, but gradually diminishes in 

 capacity till it comes near the anus, when it widens a 

 little again. The gut makes one complete convolution, 

 which reaches three-fourths of the distance from the 

 pylorus to the anus, and returning back again, takes a 

 straight course to the vent. The ovaries are short, wide, 

 cordiform sacs, united at the neck, to form the oviduct. 

 They contained, in the specimen which was examined, 

 man}' small eggs, and a few larger ones, about the size 

 of a swan-shot. Dorsad of the neck of the ovary there 

 is a short, wide, forked, or breeches-shaped urinary blad- 

 der. The genital papilla is small, conical, and entire. The 

 liver, after maceration in spirits, was white and soft, and 

 as far as could be ascertained, was entire, or merely with 

 a small lobe at its upper end. It covers the ventral surface 

 of the right half of the stomach. The branchial arches 

 are four, aud are armed exteriorly with a row of small, 

 sessile, bristly warts. A few scattered warts only are to 

 be found on the inner surfaces, near the bend of the arch. 

 The lower limb of each arch is by much the longest, and 

 runs far forward between the limbs of the lower jaw. The 

 upper and under phageal bones are set with small, subu- 

 late, curved teeth. The stomach contained a half-digested 

 fish. 



Hab. The kelp-weed on the shores of Kerguelen's land. 

 The specimens were caught by the hook. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length froiu intermaxillary symphysis to extremity of 



caudal flu '. 18-20 inches. 



„ „ end of anal 15-50 „ 

 „ „ end of se- 

 cond dorsal 15-25 „ 



„ „ beginning of 



anal fin 10-25 „ 



„ „ anus 10-15 „ 



„ „ beginning of 



second dorsal 8-50 „ 



„ „ pectorals ... 6-50 „ 



„ „ first dorsal.. 5-70 „ 



„ „ ventrals 5-60 „ 



„ „ tip of gill- 

 cover 6-40 „ 



„ „ tip of occi- 

 pital spiue 5-00 „ 



„ „ fore edge of 



orbit 3-00 „ 



„ „ articulation 



of lower jaw 4-20 „ 



Diameter of orbit 100 „ 



Breadth betneen eyes 1"22 „ 



„ „ tips of maxillaries, (mouth extended) 4-60 „ 



of hind head 2-20 „ 



„ of shoulder 2-35 „ 



Height of nape 2-80 „ 



„ first dorsal 3-50 „ 



„ second ditto 1-40 „ 



„ anal 100 „ 



Length of pectoral 2-85 „ 



„ ventrals 285 „ 



caudal J-56 „ 



