'3. TRACniCHTIlVS. 1] 



of the jaws and palatine bones in narrow bands, and those of the 

 vomer in a small patch. 



The interspace between the eyes is one-third of the length of 

 the head, and convex; the scales of the nape extend nearly to 

 above the middle of the eye. The remainder of the upper surface of 

 the head is scaleless, and occupied by cavities. There are two narrow 

 bony ridges running from the nape to the front of the snout ; they 

 converge in the middle, incluchng posteriorly a narrow triangular 

 cavity. Between these ridges and the superciliary margin there is on 

 each side another ridge, sHghtly arched, and ranning from the supra- 

 scapvdary to the posterior nostril ; there is a pair of large cavities 

 between these and the inner ridges ; lastly, there is a third cavity be- 

 tween the ridge just mentioned and the superciliaiy arch. This latter 

 cavity is absent in Bcryx affinis, the outer ridge and the superciliary 

 margin being confluent in that species. The nostrils are close 

 together ; the anterior small, round ; the posterior larger, short, 

 ovate. The eye is placed high up the sides, its diameter is nearly 

 one-third of the length of the head. The iufraorbital arch is trans- 

 formed into a channel, covered by a half-transparent skia, like the 

 cavities of the skull ; several bony ridges cross it ; the anterior 

 infraorbital is veiy narrow in front and scarcely denticulated ; none 

 of the bones extend to the praeopercidiun. 



The operculum is not twice as high as wide ; no scales are visible 

 on it, except at its upper extremity, but broad ridges, rough and 

 slightly arched; the spine at its upper angle is scarcely visible. 

 The suboperculura is entire, and notched before the pectoral ; the 

 interoperculum is rough and slightiy serrated. The prfeoperculum 

 has on the hinder and under part two parallel ridges \vith a channel 

 between ; they are slightly roughened and meet at a right angle, 

 where there is a projecting triangular spuie with a sharp bony ridge ; 

 the edges of this spine have a line, hardly visible serratiu-e. The 

 spine does not extend to the gill-opening. Cheek scaly. The scapu- 

 lary bone has a distinct spine, much more feeble than in the other 

 species. Humeral bone not serrated. 



The dorsal tin is placed somewhat nearer the base of the caudal 

 than the tip of the snout ; its height equals its length. The spines 

 and rays are much more slender than in Trachichthys austral is, and 

 not roughened. The spines become longer behind; the foui-th is 

 about as long as the last ray, one-half of the longest ; the longest 

 ray is the thii-d, much longer than one-half of the depth of the body. 

 Tlic caudal is moderately forked, with pointed lobes of moderate 

 length, about one-fifth of the total. The origin of the anal faUs 

 under the end of the dorsal, it is rather higher than long, but much 

 lower than the dorsal ; the spines and rays are smooth, the foi-mer 

 gradually becoming longer behind ; the tWd spine is much shorter 

 than the lii-st ray (which is the longest), and even somewhat shorter 

 than the last. The pectorals are slightly romided, short, their length 

 being one-seventh only of the total. The ventrals equal the i)ectoraIs 

 in length ; they are inserted a little behind the pectorals ; their spine 

 is equal to the third of the anal fin. 



