136 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Spotted Pigfish. 

 Plate XXXIY. 



B. vi. D. 12/11. A. 3/12.V. 1/5. P. 17. C. 14. L. lat. 33-35. L. tr. G/12. Yert. 



11/16-17. 



Length of bead 3-40-3-60, of caudal fin 4-40-4-SO, height of body 

 3-66-4-00 in the total length. Diameter of eye 4-60-5-50 in the length of 

 the head, 190 240 in that of the pointed snout, and I'OO-l-SO in the 

 slightly convex intororbital space. JN"ostrils but little separated, the anterior 

 minute, and pierced in a low tube, the posterior larger, horizontal and oval, 

 with a low overhanging flap. Upper profile of head straight. Jaws equal. 

 Cleft of mouth moderate and horizontal, the maxilla, which is concealed by the 

 preorbital, extending to beneath the anterior nostril, or even so far as the 

 front margin of the eye. Intermaxillary processes extending backwards to 

 between the middle of the orbits, their length one half of that of the head. 

 Length of preorbital rather more than its depth : vertical limb of preoperele 

 roughened. Both jaws with two pairs of anterior canines, those of the 

 upper subequal, the middle pair of the lower small ; sides of the jaws with 

 a single series of conical teeth, seven or eight in each ramus of the upper, 

 twelve to fifteen in each of the lower jaw ; inside these there is a band 

 of small granular teeth : one or two posterior canines. The dorsal fin com- 

 mences above the upper angle of the pectoral, and terminates a little in 

 front of the last anal ray ; the spines are strong, and the membrane extends 

 beyond their tips so as to form a short flap ; they increase in height gradually 

 to the last, which is about one half of the first, 2"S5-305 in the length of the 

 head, and 1"33 in the sixth and seventh rays, which are equal and longest ; the 

 base of the spinous dorsal is rather more than twice the length of the rayed 

 portion, the outer margin of which is pointed : the anal commences beneath 

 the eleventh dorsal spine ; the spines are much stronger and more com- 

 pressed than those of the dorsal, the third the longest, equal to the last 

 dorsal spine, and very little less than the rays, whose outer margin is slightly 

 convex : ventral fin reaching to the vent, or even to the origin of the anal 

 fin, its length 1'33-1'65 in that of the head ; the spine is strong, equal to 

 the last dorsal spine, and 1'66 in the outer ray, which is slightly produced : 

 pectoral rounded behind, reaching to beneath the twelfth scale of the 

 lateral line, its length 1"70-1"S5 in that of the head : caudal emarginate, 

 with the lobes produced, the least height of the pedicle 2"50 in the height 

 of the body. Snout, preorbital, interorbital space, and preoperele scaleless ; 

 vertical fins with a basal scaly sheath, whose greatest development is about 

 the middle. Jjateral line with a gentle curvature to the caudal pedicle, the 

 tubes curved, but unbrauched. 



Colors. — Deep scarlet above, gradually changing into pink or saffron 

 yellow below ; each scale on the sides has a narrow median reddish streak, 

 thus giving the fish a longitudinally banded appearance ; a large pinkish 

 patch below the origin of the rayed dorsal, and some small spots of a 

 similar color in front of it on or near the lateral line : dorsal and caudal 

 fins scarlet, with a more or less broad lighter margin ; the former with a large 

 dark blue spot between the sixth and eighth or seventh and ninth spines, 

 surrounded, except at its base, by a pearly white band ; similar, but small, 

 spots generally present on the adjoining spines ; annl scarlet anteriorly, 

 yellowish posteriorly ; ventrals hyaline, with the outer ray golden ; pectorals 

 reddish, with a small dark blue axillary spot : irides orange. 



