DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



171 



rounded and slightly prominent, and the anal and dorsal spring from arched bases. 

 The naked trunk of the tail forms more than one-fifth of the total length of the fish, 

 caudal excluded. The dorsal and anal fins are arched in outline, the curve in both 

 being more sudden anteriorly ; the caudal is rounded. 



Rays.—D. 2| - 34 ; A. 32 ; C. 12 ; P. 1 1 or 12. 



The dorsal spine is quadrangular, tapering and acute, and is armed on each angle by 

 a row of sharp hooks turned downwards. It stands between the posterior halves of the 

 orbits and over the gill-openings, which are short, and do not descend lower than the 

 upper edge of the pectoral. The pelvic bone shows its form through the skin, but its 

 tip does not perforate the integuments. 



The whole body is densely covered with minute, smooth globular warts, each sup- 

 porting a very small spine pointing backwards, and rendering the skin rough to the 

 touch when the finger is drawn forwards. The minute spines are more erect and 

 a little longer on the margins of the occipital furrow which receives the spine, on 

 the belly and on the pelvic bone, particularly on its tip. These dermal spines are 

 invisible to the naked eye ; but when viewed through a lens, they appear to be very 

 regular and beautiful objects, the integuments between them being finely spotted. 



Colour. — Dark on the upper parts, more silvery towards the anal and on all the parts 

 below the level of the pectoral. Many roundish but irregular darker spots are scat- 

 tered in cloud-like patches on the sides of the head, body, and tail, but none of them 

 are beneath the line of the pectorals. The ground colour after long maceration in spirits 

 is clove-brown, the spots being a deeper tint of the same. Near the end of the caudal 

 a narrow dark band is obscurely marked. 



Dimensions. 



Length from the tips of the teeth to the extremity of the caudal fin 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the base of do. . . 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the end of anal . . 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the end of dorsal . 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the beginning of anal 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the anus .... 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the beginning of dorsal 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the tip of pelvic bone 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the dorsal spine 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the centre of orbit . 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the base of pectoral 

 Length from the tips of the teeth to the gill-opening . 



Diameter of the orbit ; . . . . 



Height of the dorsal spine 



Height of the second dorsal or anal 



