FISHES. — MCCULLOCH. 169 



T>. 9 ; A.7 ; P. U-15 ; C 8. Head, from the upper lip to 

 the upper end of the gill-opening, 3-3-1 in the length from the 

 upper lip to the base of the caudal. Eye 4-2-4-5 in the head. 

 Snout, from middle of upper lip to anterior margin of eye, 

 2-3 in the head, and not quite twice as long as the eye. 

 Longest dorsal ray r8-l-9. longest anal ray 2-3 in the 

 head. Longest pectoral ray 2-1. and median caudal ray 1-4-1-6 

 in the head. Least depth of caudal peduncle a little less 

 than the length of the eye, 4-5-4-9 in the head. 



Chin prominent, square-cut, sometimes projecting beyond 

 the jaws ; its depth almost equal to the length of the eye. 

 Nostrils opening on either side of a rounded papilla, which is 

 placed in a depression. Eye nearer the gill-opening than 

 the end of the snout, its upper margin slightly raised above 

 the cephalic profile ; lower lid free, the upper adnate to the 

 ocular membrane. Gill-opening margined \^"ith a number of 

 small, overhanging papillse ; the inner flap concealed or 

 visible only as a small angular projection. 



Skin of the head and body more or less coarsely plicated, 

 as is the back of the tail behind the dorsal fin ; sides and 

 lower surface of tail, and sometimes the cheeks also, smooth. 

 Dorsal surface, from behind the nostrils to a little before the 

 dorsal fin, armed with coarse spinules ; a band of similar 

 spinules behind the pectoral fin, and a few scattered ones in 

 front of the gill-opening ; abdomen spiny from Ijehind the 

 chin to just before the vent. A well-developed fold extends 

 from the chin to the base of the caudal. 



Dorsal and anal pointed, the origin of the former a little 

 before the verticle of that of the latter. Median caudal rays 

 a little longer than those on either side of them, the outer 

 ones also slightly produced, tapper pectoral rays longest, 

 the margin rounded. 



Colour. — Somewhat variable : either grej' or blackish on 

 the back, and closely speckled with small dark dots which 

 increase in size laterally, becoming rounded spots on the 

 sides ; some specimens have iiTegular whitish spots inter- 

 mingled with the darker ones. Lower surface white. Dorsal, 

 anal, and pectoral fins without markings ; caudal diisky 

 towards the margin, the tips of the lower rays darker than 

 the rest. Young with four darker cross-bars ; the first 

 behind the eyes, the second curving backwards between the 

 pectorals, the third less curved and including the base of 

 the dorsal, the fourth crossing the caudal peduncle. 



I have examined ten specimens of this species, 79-220 mm. 

 long, including a co-type received from Mr. Ogilby. They 

 indicate that the original description is not quite accurate in 



