FISHES. — MCCULLOCH. 129 



Genus Pseudorhombus, Bleeker. 



Pseudo-rhombus spinosus, sp. nov. 



(Plate xxv.) 



D. 74-76; A. 56-57; V. 6 ; P. dex., 1,11, P. sin., 1,9-10; C. 17 ; 

 L. lat. to hypural 80 Depth 2.21-2.27, head 3.62-3.8 in the 

 length to the hypural. Eye 4.8-5.2, maxillary 2.13-2.18, snout 

 4-4.3 in the head. The dorsal profile is not notched on the 

 snout ; there is a broad space between it and the eye which is 

 equal to about two-thirds the diameter of the latter. Lower eye 

 very slightly in advance of the upper ; in one specimen there is 

 a small fleshy tentacle on a slender stalk over each eye. Inter- 

 orbital space narrow, consisting of a raised bony ridge. Mouth 

 strongly arched, the maxillary reaching to below the hinder 

 third or fourth of the eye. Teeth rather large and widely spaced 

 anteriorly, weaker posteriorly ; those of the lower jaw lat-ger 

 than the upper ones. Gill-rakers palmate, as long as broad, 

 about one-fifth as long as the eye ; there are nine or ten on the 

 lower limb of the first arch, and their free margins are rounded 

 with four to six projecting spinules. 



Dorsal fin commencing on the snout before the level of the 

 nostrils, the anterior rays broad and partly free ; the longest 

 rays, which are behind the middle of the fin, are about as long as 

 the space between the tip of the snout and the hinder margin of 

 the eye. Anal preceeded by a strong, fixed spine of which only 

 the tip projects beyond the flesh ; the form of the fin and the 

 lengths of the rays are similar to those of the dorsal. Upper 

 pectoral reaching across the arch of the lateral line, its base 

 nearly horizontal, the longest rays 1^-lf in the head ; lower 

 pectoral 2^ in the same. Ventrals almost similar in form, the 

 second ray 2£-3| in the head. Caudal somewhat pointed, the 

 middle rays 1.14-1.27 in the head. 



Scales small, cycloid on both sides ; they are imbricate below, 

 but only the tips project beyond the skin above. Snout, jaws, 

 and interorbital space naked. The scales extend onto the rays of 

 the dorsal, anal and caudal fins on both sides, and onto the base 

 of the left ventral. The lateral line is broadly arched above the 

 pectoral, and there are about eighty pores between the operculum 

 and the hypural ; a supplementary branch is given off in the 

 direction of the back above the operculum, and another extends 

 forward above the outer border of the upper eye. 



Colour. — Light grey with three conspicuous dark ocelli 

 surrounded by lighter dots, the arrangement of which may be 

 seen in the figure ; the whole upper side of the head and body is 

 closely covered with numerous more or less complete darker 

 rings and spots. The fins are spotted and blotched with brown. 



