64 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



fimbriated tentacle behind ; the posterior small and oval, pierced at the base 

 of the orbital ring. Jaws equal, tlie lower with a short bony tubercle 

 below the symphysis. Cleft of mouth wide and a little oblique, the maxilla 

 reaching to beneath the posterior third of the orbit. Preorbital with from 

 one to three small spines at the middle of its upper margin, from w^hich 

 radiate ridges terminating in short stout spines along its inferior margin, 

 some of which are ornamented with tentacles, that of the last being always 

 present, long, and fringed, and with a pair of small bilobate tentacles pos- 

 teriorly : a turbinui spine : one anterior and two posterior supraorbital 

 spines : a short compressed ridge commences behind the intermaxillary pro- 

 cesses, and ends between the front margins of the eyes : interorbital space 

 with a low ridge on each side, which is absorbed into a much more pro- 

 minent ridge rising at the base of the second supraorbital spine, and meeting 

 at the anterior margin of the vertical groove, which after their junction they 

 partially divide by a much lower ridge : a strong spine on each side in the 

 groove, followed by a pair on the occiput in contact with one another : a 

 temporal ridge consisting of three strong spines, the last of which marks the 

 origin of the lateral line, and preceded by a pair of small spines, below which, at 

 some distance, are a similar pair : a deep naked groove below the eye, bor- 

 dered inferiorly by a strongly spinate ridge, which terminates in the upper and 

 longest preopercular spine : preopercle with five spines, which grow gradually 

 shorter inferiorly : opercle with two divergent ridges traversing its entire 

 length and ending in strong spines, the upper of which is the longer. A 

 broad band of cardiform teeth in the jaws, those in the lower being some- 

 what the stronger ; vomerine teeth in an obtusely angular band ; one or two 

 series of incurved teeth on the palate. The dorsal commences above the 

 middle of the opercle ; its spines are strong and acute, the third the longest, 

 2-25 in the length of the head ; height of the eleventh spine I'OO in that of 

 the last, which is a little shorter than the second, and 1"50 in the height of 

 the third ; anterior dorsal rays not quite so long as the longest spine ; the 

 base of the rayed portion is 2"00 in that of the spinous, and the posterior 

 ray is attached by membrane to the tail : the anal commences beneath the 

 second dorsal ray, the second spine is the longest and strongest, equal in 

 length to the fifth dorsal spine, and 2'66 in that of the head; the rays are 

 longer than those of the dorsal, and the posterior one is not attached by 

 membrane to the tail : the ventral reaches to the vent, its length being I'SO in 

 that of the head ; the spine is moderately strong, about equal in length to 

 the seventh dorsal spine : the ten lower pectoral rays are simple, the upper one 

 the longest, but little longer than the last divided ray, and I'OO in the length 

 of the head : caudal gently rounded, the least height of the pedicle 4'33 in 

 the height of the body. Head scaleless. Lateral line with twenty one tubular 

 scales behind the opercular flap, and with forty four series above it ; eight 

 series between the last dorsal spine and the lateral line. 



Colors. — General color carmine, brightest above ; abdominal region 

 pearly white ; a broad transverse pink spot, narrowest mesially, on the 

 occiput immediately behind the vertical groove ; lower surface of the head 

 pale red marbled with yellow, with which color the lips are banded ; from 

 one to three pink tentaculated spots on the lateral line ; lower part of the 

 sides with scattered dark brown spots margined with carmine, most con- 

 spicuous underneath the pectorals : spinous dorsal bright red with silvery 

 blotches and stripes, and a black spot on the outer half between the sixth 

 and tenth spines present or absent ; rayed portion wntli the outer half 

 profusely marbled with silvery, and generally with a small black spot at the 

 base of the tw^o last rays, behind which is a pink spot ; caudal mai'bled red 



