FISHES. — MCCULLOCH, 15^ 



Lepidopus (Benthodesmlts) elongatus, Clarke. 



Lepidopus elongatus, Clarke, Trans. N. Zeal. lust., xi., 1879, 

 p. 294, pi. xiv. Id.. Giinther, " Challenger " Rept., 

 ZooL, xxii., 1887, p. 38. 



A beautifully preserved example. 767 mm. long, agrees 

 perfectly with Clarke's description and figure of this species. 



Loc. — South of Gabo Island, Victoria, 200 fathoms. 



Family SCORPiENIDJC. 



Genus Neosebastes, Guichenot. 



Neosebastes, Guichenot, Mem. Soc. Nat. Sci. Cherbourg, 

 xiii., 1868, p. 83 {Sebastes panda, Richardson). Id., 

 Jordan and Starks, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., xxvii., 1904, 

 p. 120. 



Jordan and Starks have noted that their N. entaxis differs 

 from Guichenot 's definition of Neosebastes in having the lower 

 pectoral raj'-s simple instead of branched, and suggest that it 

 may represent a distinct genus. This character is variable, 

 however, young specimens of ^Y. panda having the lower 

 rays simple, while they are branched in adults ; other species 

 also exhibit the same variation with growth. 



The following is a key to the Australian species of the 

 genus : — 



a. A deep, naked, nuchal groove. Pectoral margin evenly 

 rounded panda. 



aa. No deep, naked, nuchal groove. 



b. More than forty pores in the lateral line. Depth, one- 

 third the length without caudal. Pectoral margin 

 evenly rounded scorpcenoides. 



bb. Less than forty pores in the lateral line. Depth more 

 than one-third the length. 



c. Pectoral margin evenly rounded. Supraorbital 

 spines large, overhanging the eye thetidis. 



cc. Some of the lower pectoral rays longer than those 

 above them. Supraorbital spines smaller, not 

 overhanging the eye. 



d. Soft dorsal with a large black spot . . incisipinnis. 



dd. Soft dorsal without a black spot. . nigropunctatus. 



