122 DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



small oval points of unequal sizes, but it is not easy to say whether they are minute 

 scales or merely mucus hardened by the spirit. 



The membrane of the first dorsal is of a deep black colour, with a tapering white 

 stripe behind each spinous ray. The other colours have faded, but the thin and easily 

 detached epidermis still possesses a bright silvery nacre. The top of the head and the 

 folds about the jaws and corners of the mouth looli blackish. 



Anatomy. — The lining of the mouth is deep black ; the smooth and flat tongue and 

 the isthmus are very narrow, and between the second and third arches the isthmus rises 

 into an acute smooth ridge'. Each of the extremely slender branchial arches is studded 

 with two rows of small tubercles, covered with minute bristles, mixed with three or 

 four longer but slender and very acute rigid spines, of unequal length ; tubercles still 

 more minute run forward on the sides of the isthmus to the root of the tongue. The 

 pharyngeal bones are long and narrow, particularly the under ones, which are broadest 

 behind and acute forwards : the upper ones are three on each side ; all are covered with 

 moderately strong, densely viUiform teeth, which curve inwards. The stomach is a 

 long, nearly cyhndrical tube, which gives off its very short pyloric branch near the 

 gullet. The cteca, seven in number, are pretty long, but unequally so. The long air- 

 bladder becomes narrower as it approaches the gullet, and there ends, in a short, slen- 

 der, obtuse process. There appeared to be no other contraction or appendix, though it 

 was not extracted so entire as to render its shape quite certain. A multitude of para- 

 sitical worms lay coiled circularly in the peritoneum. The stomach contained some 

 very small fish and minute Crustacea. 



Dimensions. 



Inches. Lines. 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to tips of caudal lobes ... 16 2 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of central caudal rays .15 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of lateral hne ... 14 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to anal 10 2 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of soft dorsal .10 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to anus 9 9 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to ventrals 4 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to pectorals 3 8 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of gill-flap .... 3 6 



Length from intermaxillaiy symphysis to beginning of spinous dorsal 3 3 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to centre of eye 1 9 



Diameter of eye 8 



Length of pectorals 1 6^ 



Length of ventrals 8^ 



' ■' La langue 71 est garnie que d'une plaque un peu dpre." — Hist, des Poissons. In our (two) specimens the 

 surfiice of the tongue is quite smooth, though there are some tubercles at its base on each side. 



