2G MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



linear or gently rounded and moderately acclivous, its width 1-5 to 1-67 in its 

 length, which is 3-12 to 3-33 in that of the body. Snout short, with feebly rounded 

 subvertical profile, its length 1-5 to 1-63 in the eye-diarneter, which is 3-25 to 3-5 

 in the length of the head. Interorbital region narrow and concave, its v/idth 3-33 

 to 3-6 in the eye-diameter. Maxillary extending to about one diameter of the eye 

 behind the eye, its length 1-6 to 1-67 in that of the head, the width of its distal 

 extremity 3-16 to 3-5 in its length. 



Scales extending forwards along the middle of the trunk to above the vent 

 only, the naked area extending backwards above and below in a gradually 

 contracting band to about the last third of the vertical fins ; only those scales on 

 or near the caudal peduncle truly imbricate; belly naked. Lateral line termi- 

 nating below the 12th or 13th dorsal ray. 



Dorsal fin with x 17 rays, originating well behind the tip of the maxillary ; 

 outer border of spinous dorsal rounded in front, linear behind, the spines 

 gradually increasing in length to the last, but much lower than the soft rays, the 

 12th or 13th of which is the longest, 2 to 2-33 in the length of the head. Caudal 

 fin short, 5-16 to 5-67 in the body-length. Anal with i 16 rays, originating below 

 the 2nd or 3rd dorsal ray, the longest ray corresponding to and as long as those 

 of the dorsal. Pectoral rounded, with 20 rays, its length 1-83 to 2 in that of the 

 head. Ventral as long as or a little longer than the pectoral, the 2nd ray some- 

 what produced, but not nearly reaching to the vent. 



Gill-rakers long and moderately slender, with the inner edge spinulose, 

 9 -f- 19 or 20 on the anterior arch, the longest 2-1 in the eye-diameter. 



Ground-color varying from rich light brown to lemon yellow, the upper 

 surface and sides of the trunk broadly reticulated with chocolate brown, a wavy 

 median band, which is sometimes black, being always present ; throat, breast, and 

 belly immaculate; tail with a few irregular brown spots and wavy lines, each 

 scale with a brown central dot. Upper surface and sides of head profusely 

 dotted and pencilled with brown; inner posterior edges of maxillary and 

 mandible black; distal extremity of maxillary and a broad stripe on the 

 mandible white. Dorsal fin dark purplish brown, Tvith a basal series of lighter 

 spots ; soft portion with an additional submarginal row of similar spots and two 

 oblique bands posteriorly. Anal rich brown, with a light basal band. Caudal 

 with three transverse rows of light spots. Pectoral pale yellow, profusely 

 powdered with brown. Outer portion of ventrals purplish black. 



Described from four specimens, 212 to 264 mm. in total length, in the 

 collection of the Queensland Museum ; they were taken by hook on the Snapper 

 Grounds off Moreton Bay, where, however, it appears to be scarce. 



Originally described from Port Jackson in 1881, its range was extended, 

 eight years later, to the Queensland Coast, through a specimen obtained in 

 Moreton Bay by the late Mr. D. O'Connor; these two localities still form the 

 extreme limits of its recorded distribution. 



