FISHES. MCCULLOCH. 81 



Six examples, 585-600 mm. loug, exhibit some variation in the 

 form and size of the fins. The spines of both dorsals differ in 

 length in each specimen, and the extreme height of the first 

 dorsal is equal to the distance from the tip of the snout to either 

 the first or the last gill-opening ; the hinder margin may be con- 

 cave, or straighter as in the specimen figured. The membrane 

 of the tail is damaged in two of the specimens, and consequently 

 that fin appears to be a little smaller than in the more perfect one 

 which is figured. 



Regan has suggested the identity of 0. bruniensis and 

 0. centrina, but a comparison of the Australian specimens with 

 a Mediterranean example of the latter species, shows the two to 

 be quite distinct. In 0. bruniensis, the body is very much 

 deeper, and the interspace between the two dorsal fins is narrower 

 than in 0. centrina. The scales of the Mediterranean species are 

 smaller, of uneven size, and densely crowded, whereas they are 

 larger and more uniform in size in (J. bruniensis, and separated 

 from one another so that the bare skin is visible between them. 

 Finally the spiracle is quite different in the two species, being 

 smaller and round, and less than half as wide as the eye in 

 0. bruniensis, Avhile it is larger, oval, and more than half as wide 

 as the eye in 0. centrina. 



For the opportunity of comparing the Australian specimens 

 with a European one, I have to thank M. Jules Richard, Director 

 of the Musee Oceanographique, who forwarded specimens of this 

 and other fishes to the Australian Museum. 



Locs. — Eastern edge of Bass Strait, 100-220 fathoms; 

 December, 1912. 



Great Australian Bight, 80-120 fathoms; April, 1918. 

 Great Australian Bight, Long. 127-128° E., 160-200 fathoms ; 

 June, 1913. 



Family SCYMNORHINID.'E. 



Genus ScYMNORHiNis, Bonaparte. l 



Scymnokhinus licha, Bonnaterre. 



(Plate xiv., fig. 1 ; Fig. 1.) 



Squqlus licha, Bounaterre, Encycl. Meth., Ichth., 1788, p. 12. 



Seym mi* lichia, Parker, Trans. N. Zeal. Inst., xv., 1883, 

 p. 223, pis. xxxi-xxxii. 



Dalatias licha, Jordan & Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus,, xxvi., 

 1903, p. 637 (synonymy). 



ScynmorMnus lichia, Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), ii.. 

 1908, p. 54. 



1 For notes on the use of Scymnorhinus rather than Dalatias, Rafines- 

 que, see Garman — Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., xxiv., 1899, p. 31. 



