92 DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



scapular ridge, and below by the upper opercular one. These scales are not visible 

 until the smooth skin is scraped, and they are not tiled as on the body, but the cen- 

 tral ones overlie the surrounding ones on all sides. There are no scales between 

 or below the ridges of the operculum, on the suboperculum or interoperculum. The 

 muzzle and jaws are also scaleless, in which respect this Scorpcena differs from the Se- 

 bastes minuius of the ' Histoire des Poissons.' The top of the head is covered by soft 

 skin which is sparingly granulated. 



The spinous part of the dorsal is more boldly arched than in porcus, and is equal in 

 height to the soft rays of that fin or of the anal. The spines are more strongly grooved 

 towards their tips than in bufo or porcus. The second anal spine, as strong as that of 

 porcus, is more slender than in bufo, and is longer than the third one. The upper- 

 most pectoral ray is simple, as are also nine lower ones on one side and ten on the 

 other. The table of dimensions furnishes the means of ascertaining the proportions of 

 the various parts of the fish to each other. 



These particulars are mostly ascertained from the examination of the smaller speci- 

 men, which was preserved in spirits. The larger one, which was put up in strong brine, 

 was perfectly sound, but long friction against many large grains of undissolved salt had 

 injured its spines. There are the remains of two or three large dark patches on the side 

 and along the dorsal in this specimen, and the top of the head is dark. 



Dimensions. 



1st Specimen. 2nd Specimen. 

 Inches. Lines. Inches. Lines. 

 Length from intermax. symph. to end of caudal fin . . 4 3 6 



Length from intermax. symph. to beginning of caudal fin 3 8^ 4 10 



Length from intermax. symph. to end of dorsal ... 2 11 4 3 



Length from intermax. symph. to end of anal .... 2 8 4 0-|^ 



Length from intermax. symph. to beginning of anal ..23 34 



Length from intermax. symph. to anus 2 3 



Length from intermax. symph. to point of gill-flap ..13 19 



Length from intermax. symph. to beginning of dorsal .12 15 



Diameter of circular orbit 4 5 



Breadth of space between the orbits 2^ 3^ 



Length of pectorals 1 1 1 2^ 



Length of ventrals 10 1 2 



Length of dorsal 2 211 



Length of anal 6 10 



Length of caudal 1 1 3 



Height of third dorsal spine 8 1 



Height of soft rays of dorsal 7^ 9^ 





