83 



fin commences above the eye ; the spines are rather weak, the 

 third the longest, If to ly^^ in the length of the head ; 

 the eighth and ninth are short and sometimes quite concealed 

 heneath the loose skin§ ; the length of the last spine is If 

 to 1^ in that of the third and IJ to If in the first ray ; 

 all the fin rays have free tips, and the third and fourth 

 are the longest, 1|- to IJ in the length of the head ; the 

 anal spines are rather stronger than those of the dorsal, 

 the last the longest, 2i to 2f in the length of the head 

 and 1| to 2| in the longest rays ; ventral spine strong 

 and acute, If to 2 in the length of the longest ray ; the 

 margin of the fin is either rounded or subacuminate owing 

 to the prolongation of the two outer rays, and extends almost 

 to the vent or beyond the origin of the anal ; pectoral 

 rounded, reaching to or beyond the vertical from the first 

 anal ray, 1^% to 1-g- in the length of the head ; caudal 

 rounded, subequal in length to the pectoral, its length 3|- 

 to 3| in the total length ; the least depth of the caudal 

 peduncle is about as long as the diameter of the eye. 



The specimens were in fair condition and measured respec- 

 tively 270 and 280 millimeters. 



Among the other fishes forwarded by Mr. Morton was a 

 Macrurid from the estuary of the Derwent ; though closely 

 allied to CoelorJiynchus australis (Ledidoleprus australisy 

 Eichardson, Proc, Zool. Soc. Lond. 1839; Macrurus australis, 

 Giinther, Catal. Fish. iv. p. 391, and Voy. Challenger, 

 Zool. xxii. p. 127), this example differed to such an extent 

 that I think it better to describe it at length, naming it 

 provisionally as belowU. 



C(ELORHYNCHTJS MOETONI, Sp. UOV. 



D. 13, 68. A. 71. V. 7. P. 15. C. 6. Sc. 883^. 

 Length of head 4 J, depth of body 5i in the total length ; 

 eye very large, its diameter 3^ in the length of the 

 head ; snout obtusely angulated, extending considerably 

 beyond the mouth, a little longer than the eye ; interorbital 

 region flat, its width six sevenths of the diameter of the 

 •eye ; upper surface of the snout with a median and two 

 lateral ridges ; infraorbital ridge prominent, not reaching 

 back as far as the angle of the preopercle, in front of which 

 it terminates in an elongated, acute point, formed by its 

 coalescence with an arcuate ridge which traverses the anterior 

 border of the preopercle ; barbel subequal in length to the 



§ In one specimen these two spines are not visible, but can be plainly felt. 



^ I submitted the above description to Dr. Boulenger, who, llowe^•er, merely 

 writes in answer :— " From your description I think the Ccelorhynchus must' be very 

 <;losely allied to Macrurus australis." Through an unfortunate accident the 

 specimen has been lost to science. 



