DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 177 



before the eyes. The margins of the orbits are cartilaginous, and rise so as to leave a 

 considerable depression between them. The occipital crest is partly bony and is not 

 much elevated. The cavity of the cranium bears a very small proportion to the size of 

 the skull, which is mostly made up of the frontal crest. Two oblong pieces of bone on 

 each side are the only vestiges I could detect of opercula. There are four branchial 

 apertures interiorly, separated by narrow branchial arches which are sparingly furnished 

 with small rakers. There is some bone before the anterior and behind the posterior 

 opening, but most of the branchial apparatus with the rather broad isthmus is cartila- 

 ginous, or membranous with some detached ossified spots. Except the first vertebra 

 and parts of the superior spinous processes anterior to the ventrals, the whole spinal 

 column is cartilaginous. It is compressed, flattened beneath, as far back as the middle 

 of the second dorsal, and acute along the ridge from which the spinous processes rise. 

 The interspinous bones of the ventrals of the fore part of the second dorsal, and a few 

 of those of the pectoral are partially ossified. There are no visible interosseous bones 

 to the caudals. 



Dimensions. 



Female. Male. 



In. Lin. In. Lin. 



Length from the tip of the snout to point of tail 37 31 



Length from the tip of the snout to under caudal (second) . . 28 4 



Length from the tip of the snout to upper caudal 28 2 GO 



Length from the tip of the snout to first caudal (under) ... 26 6 00 



Length from the tip of the snout to end of second dorsal . . 26 



Length from the tip of the snout to beginning of second dorsal 18 9 



Length from the tip of the snout to base of ventrals, anteriorly 17 6 



Length from the tip of the snout to centre of anus .... 1 7 00 



Length from the tip of the snout to beginning of first dorsal . 10 



Length from the tip of the snout to base of pectorals ... 7 10 00 



Length from the tip of the snout to gill-openings 5 4 



Length from the tip of the snout to orbit anterior margin ..62 44 



Length from the tip of the snout to frontal appendage (male) .00 44 



Length from the tip of the snout to mouth 2 7 



Longitudinal axis of orbit 12 12 



Length of rostrum about 30 26 



Length of pectorals 70 60 



Length of first dorsal with its membrane 3 6 



Length of second dorsal 72 52 



Length of space between second dorsal and upper caudal ..22 19 



Length of upper caudal 89 74 



Length of under caudal 84 70 



Length of first under caudal (anal Mijller and Henl^) ... 14 10 



