BECHE-DE-MER FISHERIES. 235 



of a blackish hue distributed among the papillae on the dorsal and lateral surfaces ; and the whole 

 of this area, including the papillae, thickly sprinkled with minute orange specks ; colour of oral 

 tentacula light buff. Attaining to a length, when extended, of three or four feet, with a diameter 

 of four or five inches. Usually collected, by diving, in deep water on the more remote reefs. Of 

 considerable commercial value. 



2. Green Prickly-fish, Stichopits clilorouotits (Chromo XII., Fig. 3). — Body in extension 

 elongate, sub-quadrate, its surface beset with prominent simple sharp-pointed conical papillae ; 

 ground colour clear bottle-green throughout, the extreme tips of the papillae orange or scarlet ; 

 the expanded tentacles ash-grey or a lighter tint of the body-colour. Usual length, when extended, 

 nine to twelve inches. Occurs abundantly on the grassy [Zostcra) flats adjoining the coral-reefs 

 from Torres Strait to the central Barrier district. No commercial use, dissolving into a glutinous 

 mass within a few hours after removal from the water. 



3. Yellow Prickly-fish, Stichopus liitca, n.sp. — Body in extension elongate-ovate, slightly 

 sub-quadrate ; short, sharp-pointed, conical papillae sparsely scattered throughout the surface of 

 the integument, which is also slightly corrugated ; colour of the upper surface of the body golden- 

 or mustard-yellow, the papillae usually of a blue-black hue ; the under surface of the body bright 

 yellow, the three distinct rows of pedicels slate-grey ; the expanded tentacles light-brown. 

 Length of extended body, twelve to fourteen inches. Tolerably plentiful throughout the Barrier 

 district. Of little or no commercial value, its substance rapidly disintegrating. 



Genus Actinopyga. 

 Integument enclosing minute calcareous spicules of definite patterns ; vent pentagonal, 

 associated with five, externall}' conspicuous, calcareous ossicles. 



4. Stone-fish, Actinopyga lecanora. — Body in extension simply ovate or elongate, usually 

 broadest anteriorly ; its surface smooth ; the general ground-colour cream or stone-colour, with 

 the exception of more usually, a few irregularly scattered patches of minute, closely ap- 

 proximated, dark brown speckles, certain of which are almost invariably developed in a circle 

 round, but at a little distance from, the ventral aperture ; extended tentacles and pedicels 

 cream-colour or light brown. Length, twelve to sixteen inches. Not common. Of but little 

 commercial value. 



5. Ordinary or Sand Red-fish, Actinopyga obesa (Chromo XII., Figs, i and 2). — Body in 

 extension elongate subcylindrical, somewhat depressed ; when contracted the entire dorsal surface 

 coarsely corrugated transversely, fine reticulating lines uniting the transverse rugae ; locomotive 

 or ventral acetabula forming three distinct rows ; slender, tactile, pedicels thickly developed 

 throughout the dorsal surface of the body ; vent pentagonal, with five distinct anal ossicles ; 

 ground colour deep golden-brown, oral tentacles somewhat lighter ; under surface yellowish- 

 brown. Length, when extended, fifteen to twenty-four inches. Habitat : Reefs exposed at 



spring-tides throughout the Barrier district, not concealing itself within rock crevices. One of 



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