14 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAX MUSEUM. 



D. xii/17; A. 19; p. 14; V. 2 ; C.13. Depth 4.7 iu the lengtli to 

 the hypural joint; head 5 in the same. Eye 3.2 iu the head. Median 

 dorsal spines 2.3, and median dursal rays 1.4 in the head. Third anal 

 ray 0.2 longer than the head. 



Orbit forming the anterior profile of the head, and projecting beyond 

 the jaws. A very low obtuse ridge on the occiput and nape. Maxillary 

 reaching beyond the vertical of the hinder margin of the eye. A single 

 row of fine teeth in each jaw, and a small incurved internal canine on 

 each side of the mandible. Head with series of simple pores around 

 the eyes, across the nape, around the preoperculum, and on each side of 

 the mandible. A simple tentacle behind tlie anterior nostril and another 

 surmounting the eye, while a shorter broader one is present on each 

 side of the neck. 



Dorsal fin originating above the operculum, distinctly notclied, the 

 spinous portion a little shorter than the soft; the spines increase in height 

 towards the middle, but the longest is not so high as the rays, and the 

 last is much shorter than the penultimate. Soft dorsal a little rounded, 

 median rays longest, and the last united by membrane to the extreme 

 base of the caudal. Anal ray somewhat produced and filiform anteriorly, 

 the third the longest, the others decreasing backwards ; the last is 

 connected by membrane to the peduncle. Pectoral rounded, and formed 

 wholly of simple rays, the sixth lowest being the longest. Ventrals of 

 two simple rays, inserted before the pectorals, but behind the vertical of 

 the dorsal origin ; the inner is the longer, and reaches about half its dis- 

 tance from the vent. Caudal rounded, its inner rays bifurcate. 



Colour marlchig. — Brown in alcohol, closely mottled on the anterior 

 half with white spots and reticulating lines. Head brown, with wliite 

 stellate dots, which are largest on the throat, where they combine to form 

 streaks. Two large bi'own (blue) spots are present on the throat. A 

 dark streak defines the preoperculum. Base of the pectoi'al and breast 

 with three large white spots on each side enclosed in brown lines. Body 

 closely covered with wliite spots, which are largest on tlie sides of the 

 abdomen, and there are about four broad brown bands anteriorly ; on the 

 posterior half of the trunk the marking gives place to bz'ownish dots, 

 which are enlarged above the anal fin, and are arianged in groups along 

 the base of tlie dorsal. Spinous dorsal with a few darker dots, the' rest 

 of the fin almost hyaline. Caudal with irregular rows of dark dots cross- 

 ing its lower half. Anal with a gre}' dot at the base of each ray, and a 

 broad submarginal darker band of micioscopic dots. 



The above description is based upon the holotype of the species, 

 63 mm. long, in the Macleay i^luseum. It is not so well preserved as a 

 cotype of (b'. calvus in the Australian Museum, which has, therefore, been 

 used t(j supplement the description of the colour marking. The 

 accompying figure is based on de Vis' specimen. 



AUeyne and Macleay counted the numbei' of fin-rays incorrectly in 

 their only specimen, and they overlooked the small internal mandibular 

 canines. The cotype of N. calvus tliffeis I'l-om its brief description in 

 having nasal, ocular and nuchal tentacles, and internal mandibular canines. 

 A critical comparison of these two specimens leaves^ no doubt that they 

 represent the same species. 



