DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN 

 LOPHOBRANCIIIATE FISHES. 

 By J. Douglas Ogilby. 



Syngnathus altirostris, sp. nov. 

 D. 28. A. 2. P. 16. C. 10? Osseous rings 17/40. 

 Length of liead about one-seventh of the total length and 

 one-third of the distance between the tip of the snout and the 

 vent, which distance is two and two-fifths in the total length. 

 Snout of moderate length, strongly compressed, much deeper 

 than broad, curved upwards at the tip, and from five-ninths to 

 one-half of the length of the head : postorbital space from two- 

 thirds to three-fifths of the length of the snout. Body much 

 deeper than broad, with the abdominal profile not dilated. A 

 low,but well defined, ridge along the middle of the upper siirtace 

 of the snout, sometimes ceasing on the middle of the inter- 

 orbital space, sometimes bifurcated, and joining the supraciliary 

 ridges, which arc moderately developed, and are continued 

 backwards on to the nape : nuchal ridge present : a low 

 straight ridge across the middle of the opercle, not reaching 

 the posterior margin : all the body ridges well defined : lateral 

 rido-es ceasing on the middle of the ventral ring : lower caudal 

 ridge continuous with the ventral ridge : abdominal ridge 

 prominent and acute. No lateral rostral groove. Ovisac 

 extending over eighteen rings, one-half of the length of the tail 

 without the short caudal fin. Dorsal fin not elevated above 

 the level of the back, standing upon the seven anterior caudal 

 rings. Col<y>'S—-\Jnitorm brown, with a dark lateral stripe from 

 the tip of the snout through the eye to the lower halt of the 

 opercle, where it is broken up into blotches : dorsal hn speckled 



with brown. . . , 



Two specimens, a male and a femah>, measuring respectively 

 five and three-quarters and five and one-third inches, are_ in 

 the collection of the Australian Museum, the former having 

 been received in exchange from the Queensland Museaim, and 

 obtained in Moreton Bav, while the latter was sent from the 

 Clarence River, N.S.W., by Mr. T. Temperley. _ _ 



In many respects this species resembles S. spicijer, Rupp., 

 but the slighter prominence of the opercular ridge, the inter- 

 ruption of the lateral line, and the increased number of rings 

 on which the dorsal fin stands, separate it fi'om that 

 species. 



