84 DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



There are two species of Gurnard in the collection very distinct from all that have 

 been hitherto described, and, as far as we know, they are the first that have been brought 

 from Tasmania, though one species (TV. kumu) is known to inhabit the seas of New 

 Zealand. They agree with that species, with several from India, and with the T. pwci- 

 loptera of the Mediterranean, in the pectorals being ornamented by large black eye-like 

 marks, on which account we have named them, following the examples of Solander and 

 Cuvier, after Lepidopterous groups, whose wings are somewhat similarly adorned. The 

 stomach of Trigla vmiessa contained exuviae of Malacostraca. 



Form having the general character of other Gurnards. The greatest thickness, both 

 vertically and transversely, is under the middle of the first dorsal, from whence both 

 dimensions gradually decrease to the tail. Behind the dorsal and anal the height is only 

 one-fourth of what it is behind the pectorals. The greatest width of the shoulder is on a 

 line with the humeral spine, or midway between the back and belly. The head is more 

 compressed, and its length, measured to the tip of the gill-cover, is exactly one-third of 

 the total length of the fish, excluding the caudal fin, its height at the nape being equal 

 to one-fourth, or including the caudal, to one-fifth. The cranium is narrowed and 

 deeply hollowed between the eyes, and the anterior quadrant of the orbit gives the form 

 to a corresponding extent of the profile, from whence the line slopes down to the snout. 

 The sides of the head are flat and nearly vertical, and the whole is encased in bones 

 which are everywhere roughly studded with minute tubercles or blunt spines. These 

 are generally more acute on the margins of the bones, where they form very fine serra- 

 tures or denticulations, and are most perceptible on the edges of the infra-orbitars and 

 anterior frontals, but may be discovered by the aid of a lens on all the bones. Most of 

 the granulations, when minutely inspected, appear to be the raised orifices of pores, and 

 on the infra-orbitars and some other bones there are in addition small irregular open- 

 ings lined with membrane, and communicating with cavities beneath the granulated 

 surface. On the orbitar margins of the anterior and posterior frontals, and on the 

 upper surface of the snout, the granulations are disposed obscurely in radiating lines. 

 Between the orbits the granulations are much less prominent and crowded than on the 

 occiput or before the eyes, and there are no spinous teeth on the margin of the anterior 

 frontal bounding the orbit. The orbit is round, and its inferior margin is pervaded by a 

 soft furrow, which is prolonged to the snout along the upper edge of the preorbitar. 

 The nostrils are situated in this furrow, nearer to the snout than to the eye. The ante- 

 rior process of the preorbitar, which forms the side of the snout, is comparatively 

 narrow, and is obhquely truncated, there being no sinus betwixt it and its fellow, except 

 the usual horse-shoe-shaped space, which is filled with membrane. A strong conical 

 acute spine occupies the greater part of the end of this process ; there is a much smaller 

 spine at its base exteriorly, and on the inferior edge of the preorbitar there are some 

 rough granulations or serratures. 



The preoperculum has a flat granulated surface, without ridges or perceptible radiation. 



