FISHES. MCCULLOCH. 157 



Neosebastes nigropunctatus, sp. nov. 

 (Plate XXX.) 



Br. 7 ; D. xii. i. 8 ; A. iii. 6 (5) ; V. i. 5 ; P. 14+7 ; C 15. 

 L. lat. 35. Head, from premaxillary symphysis to end of 

 opercular lobe, 2-3 in the length to the hypiiral joint ; depth 

 2-6 in the same. Eye equal to the length of the snout, 3-5 in 

 the head, and nearly twice as wide as the interorbital space, 

 which is 6-1 in the head. Least depth of caudal peduncle 3-7 

 in the head. Third dorsal spine 1-7, second dorsal ray 2-4, 

 second anal spine 2-6, and second anal ray 2-3 in the head. 

 Longest pectoral ray, second ventral ray, and median caudal 

 rays almost equal in length, about 1-5 in the head. 



A very small nasal spine above the anterior nostril. Antero- 

 superior orbital spine wanting, represented by a knob on the 

 orbital margin ; upper posterior border ^\'ith two low spines, 

 and a few more are present near the hinder margin of the 

 orbit. A small nuchal spine, and several others on the 

 exposed suprascapular margin. A small spine above the 

 suspension of the preoperculum. Preorbital with two groups 

 of comparatively small marginal spines, and one on its upper 

 surface. Suborbital stay armed with two spines, one below 

 the eye, and the other below the posterior orbital margin. 

 Preoperculum broadly rounded, with a strong posterior spine 

 which is carinate and bears a secondary spine on its upper 

 surface ; three other spines on the inferior border. Operculum 

 with two spines, the lower the largest and carinate. 



Head covered with rough scales which extend \\ ell forward, 

 leaving only the end of the snout and the mandible bare ; 

 they are largest on the middle of the operculum and on the 

 cheeks. Interorbital space deeply concave, partly naked, 

 with two ill-defined bony ridges diverging backwards. No 

 nuchal groove. Nostrils close together, the anterior with a 

 tentacle. Mandible with three large pores on each ramus, 

 and a smaller one on either side of the symphysis. Teeth 

 villiform, in bands in the jaws the upper f.erie.'. broader than the 

 lower ones. A narrow A-sh< ped jiatch on the vomer, and an 

 elongate band on each palatine ; in the largest specimen the 

 vomerine teeth are wanting and the palatine bands are reduced. 



Back but little elevated, r.rched anteriorly, then falling in 

 an almost straight line to the end of the dorsal fin. Caudal 

 peduncle rather slender. Body covered A\ith moderately 

 large, ciliated scales, which do not extend onto the fins ; they 

 are smaller on the base of the pectoral and on the breast than 

 else\\here. There are about forty-five transverse rows im- 

 mediately below the lateral line between the end of the 

 operculum and the base of the tail ; only thirty-five are pierced 

 by the lateral line. 



