DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 147 



The fin membranes appear to have been thick, and the soft parts of the dorsal and 

 anal are scaly and fleshy at the base. Broad fillets of very fine and closely tiled 

 scales run up between the rays for about two-thirds of their length. The caudal is scaly 

 almost to the edge. The ventrals are situated under the middle of the pectorals, and 

 beneath the commencement of the dorsal. The spinous ray is moderately strong, and 

 two-thirds of the length of the soft ones. The fin has a rounded outline. The first 

 dorsal spine is short, the fifth and sixth are the longest, but they are only half as high 

 as the soft rays. The twelfth spinous ray, resting closely against the soft part of the 

 fin, is a little longer than the preceding one. All the spines are strong, round, and 

 acute. The anal spines are short, particularly the first one, but they are sufficiently 

 strong and sharp. The soft parts of both anal and dorsal are highest anteriorly, and 

 terminate posteriorly in rays twice as short without any rounding off. The caudal is 

 slightly crescentic on the margin, but its lobes are not very acute. 



Dimensions. 



In. Lin. 

 Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of central caudal rays .19 2 



Length from intermaxillary to base of caudal 17 2 



Length from intermaxillary to end of ventral 13 3 



Length from intermaxillary to gill-cover tip 4 9 



Length of caudal lobes 3 4 



Length of central caudal rays 2 



Length of naked tail 2 4 



Length of intermaxillaries from basal furrow 12 



Length from basal furrow to orbit Oil 



Diameter of orbit Oil 



Distance between orbit and gill-opening 18 



Thickness of body 4 



Height under middle of dorsal .60 



Breadth between the eyes 17 



Depth of caudal fork 4 



Length of pectorals 2 6 



Length of ventrals 2 



Height of second dorsal spine 6 



Height of fifth and sixth spines, which are largest 15 



Height of eleventh spine 8 



Height of third and twelfth 9^ 



Height of soft rays of dorsal and anal anterior 2 6 



Height of posterior do Oil 



Since the preceding account of Hoplegnathus was read before the Society, I have had 

 an opportunity of seeing a specimen of a second species in Mr. Dunn's Chinese Mu- 



