232 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



to below the middle of the eye ; jaws equal. An outer row of enlarged 

 stout teeth in the premaxillaries, followed by a band of smaller ones 

 which is broadest anterioi'ly but narrows laterally ; a broader patch on 

 the anterior half of the mandible, the outer teeth being largest, though 

 there are a few enlarged ones about the middle of the sides ; they form a 

 single row on the sides. Tongue broad and notched anteriorly, only the 

 tip free. Gill openings wider than the interspace separating them ; 

 exposed edge of tlie shouklei'-girdle smooth. 



Body compressed, covered with rather large ctenoid scales, which 

 extend forwaixl almost to the eyes on the nape, and cover the breast ; 

 they are rudimentary on the base of the pectoi'al. They increase in size 

 towards the tail, and each scale of the median row has a vertical series 

 of mucigerous pcn-es on the hinder half of the body. Genital p!ij)il]a 

 large. 



First doi^sal commencing well behind the base of the pectoral ; the 

 five anterior spines are subequal in length, and the membrane from the 

 last almost touches the base of the first ray. Dorsal rays increasing 

 slightly in length backwards, the last forming a pointed lobe which overlaps 

 the base of the caudal tin. Anal similar to the second doi-sal. Pectoral 

 rounded, reaching the vertical of the anterior dorsal i-ays ; the three 

 upper rays are bifid and filamentous, silk-like. Ventrals inserted below 

 the pectoral base, large and completely united, not quite reaching the 

 vent. Caudal broadly rounded. 



Goloiir-inarlcuig. — Back light-coloured, with six broad dark saddle- 

 shaped cross- bands which expand and become confluent on the sides. The 

 first crosses the nape, the second is largely anterior to the dorsal tin, the 

 third is behind the fifth spine, the fourth behind the third ray, the fifth 

 behind the third last lay, and the sixth near the base of the tail. Below 

 the middle of the sides they form dark blotches which ai-e largely alternate 

 to those of the back. Most of the scales, particularly of the lower latei-al 

 portions, bear a round light ocellus. Cheeks and base of pectoral with 

 numerous light spots ; a dai'k spot behind the eye. First dorsal dusky, 

 with darke]' markino-s, and a broad whitish boixler. Second dorsal dusky 

 with lighter and darker spots on the rays, and a narrow blackish margin. 

 Caudal with dark spots on the rays on the upper half, its lower portions 

 and the anal somewhat dusky. Ventrals blackish, pectorals dnsky. 



Described and figured from a specimen SQ mm. long, from Dai-nley 

 Island, Torres Strait; the details of the light spots of the head and bodj' 

 are supplemented fiom those of anothei- example. It appears to be quite 

 similar to an Indian example identified by Dr. Day as (/. nlhopunctntnx. 



Van'atjd)!. — The light spots which, wlien present, form such a striking 

 feature of this species, appear to be developed only in larger examples, and 

 are often lost in preservation ; they are rarely retained in examples pre- 

 served in formalin, but some in alcohol exhibit them very clearly. The 

 dark saddle-like cross-bands and the lateral blotches are usually much 

 more pronounced in young examples than in adults, and they appear as 

 illnstnited in the figure of \f. pdecUichtliij!;, .lordan & Snyder. 



