206 HKCOKDS OF THE AUSTKALIAN JIUSEIM. 



file less than lialf a diametei- a[)art, 3-1 in the length of the head 

 and a little longer than the snout. Orbital tentacles not longer 

 than tlie depth of the eye, simple and fringed behind. Small 

 pores occur around the eye and on the preopercular margin. 

 The maxilla extends to beneath tlie centre of the eve. The teeth 

 are as is usual in the genus with posterior canines. 



Fitis. — The dorsal fin commences behind the vertical of the 

 preopercle ; the first spine is a little shorter than the eye, the 4-7 

 spines are equal, and slightly longer than the diameter of the eye, 

 and the last spine is the shortest, half the length of the first ray ; 

 the 3-12 I'ays are equal, twice the length of the first spine, winch 

 latter is about the same height as the last ray. Tlie base of the 

 soft is one-seventh longer than that of the spinous portion ; the 

 anterior anal rays are orAy one-half the height of the median 

 dorsal ones, the}' inci*ease slightly in height posteriorly. The 

 pectoral is jwinted, the ninth and longest ray being nearlv equal 

 to the head in length, extends to the anal fin. The inner ventral 

 ray is half the length of the head. The caudal is sub-truncate and 

 the least depth of its peduncle is one-third the length of the head. 

 The lateral line is composed of about twenty-four tubes of which 

 seventeen form an arch over the pectoral ; the others, which are 

 less defined and more widely spaced, are horizontally disposed : 

 there are no pores on the posterior half of tlie bod}'. 



Colour. — The ground colour is olive, darker above than below ; 

 the head is marked with three obliquely vertical bars, of which 

 the first passes through the eye and forms a V with its 

 fellow on the throat, the second diverges from the first below 

 the eye backwards to the edge of the gill membrane, and 

 the thii'd occurs behind the preopercle ; the body is marked with 

 nine transverse bars formed each of two series of black spots, 

 which do not attain the lower surface. Thei'e is a bhuik spot 

 between the first two dorsal spines, and the base of the fin is 

 shaded in accord with the body bars ; the anal bears a dark sub- 

 mai-ginal band. There are no markings on the other fins. 



Total length 47 mm. 



The single specimen examined was dredged by Mr. Gabriel in 

 Western Port. It is the one illustrated, and is a half-grown 

 example. Specimens of this age differ from the adults by the 

 shorter oi'bital tentacle, the much longer and pointed pectoral fin, 

 the simple anal papilla, and the much larger eye, in addition to 

 constant markings which do not appear to be maintained to 

 adult age. 



Mr. A. M. Lea, Government Entomologist, Tasmania, has 

 forwarded to the Trustees a nice series of this species. I am not 



