228 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN 5IUSEDM. 



Body subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed posterioi'ly. It is covered 

 with large, finely ctenoid scales, which extend forwai'd to behind the eyes, 

 and onto the thoi-ax and the base of the pectoi^al. Most of the scales of 

 the median lateral row each bear a vertical series of mucigerous pores. 

 Genital papilla well developed. 



First dorsal rounded, originating well behind the pectorals ; the 

 second ray is longest, about as long as the head without the operculum. 

 The rays of the second doisal increase slightly in length backward to the 

 penultimate. Anal originating behind the second dorsal and terminating 

 a little in advance of it ; the two tins are of similar form, but the posterior 

 anal rays are a little longer than those of the dorsal, and slightly longer 

 than the second dorsal spine. Pectoral rounded, reaching to below the 

 tirst dorsal ray; the four upper rays are silk-like, bifurcate, and free 

 fi'om the membrane. Ventrals inserted behind the pectorals but before 

 the dorsal, and reaching to the anal. Caudal rounded. 



Colour. — Light brown in alcohol, with rows of large black spots on the 

 sides ; on the nape and back, these spots are smaller and linear, and form 

 about five rows anteriorly ; a series of large blotches along the middle of 

 the sides, and another of smaller blotches below it. Obscui'e darker 

 saddles cross the back, and pearly spots are present on most of the scales. 

 Cheeks and opercles with dark blotches, and two more cross the pectoral 

 base. Dorsal fins with rows of dark brown spots and intermediate light 

 pearly lines, their margins yellowish. Caudal dark spotted, with pearly 

 lines and spots between the rays ; pectoral similar, but with the dai'k 

 spots less evident. Anal with about four rows of dark lines basally 

 between the rays ; these are followed by large transparent spots, after 

 which the fin is again dark with a lighter margin. Ventrals blackish. 



Described and figured from a specimen 84 mm. long, collected at 

 Murray Island, Torres Strait. A fine series of over one hundred speci- 

 mens 25-95 mm. long, and miostly from the same locality, shows that this 

 species varies but little in the general arrangement of its colour marking. 

 Younger examples are lighter, and have fewer and larger spots than the 

 adults, and the pectorals are usually without darker spots. 



Locs. — Specimens are in the Australian Museum from the following 

 localities : — Murray Island, Torres Strait ; Two Isles, near Cape Bedford, 

 North Queensland; Cairns Reef, off Cooktown, Queensland ; Port Darwin, 

 North Australia ; New Hebrides. 



Dlsfrihnfioii. — This species ranges from the Red Sea through the 

 East Indies, to the Eastern Pacific. Jt is recorded from North-western 

 Australia southwards to the King River (Regan), Port Darwin, and 

 North-eastern Queensland southward to Cooktown. 



The adinities of tlie following sixteen species are unknown to us. 



((lOiiirs) I'ADi'Ki;, J)v I'/V. 

 ii'iiln'iiM pdiijicr, De Vis, Proc. IjIiui. Soc. N.S. Wales, ix., lS84, p. (kS7. 

 LX)r. — Mt)rctoii Pay, Queensland (De Vis). 



