10! 



20. Haliichthys Gray. 



(duAY, Troc. Zool. Soc. London, 1859, p. 38). 

 Phylloplcryx Giinther, Cat. Biit. Mus. VIII. 

 1870, p. 196 (p.p.). 



Elongate, trunk as broad as deep, 

 hexagonal or scarcely heptagonal as 

 the abdominal crista is only feebly 

 developed. Tail tetragonal, prehen- 

 sile, the caudal wanting, much longer 

 than trunk. Shields smooth, their 

 edges with a prominent spine in 

 the middle, except the lower surface 

 of the end of the tail. No intermedial 

 shields; a praenuchal and a nuchal 

 shield present. Head compressed, 

 with a broad crest on occiput and 

 neck, provided with some strong 

 spines and a pair of lateral ones. 

 Eyes large, prominent, a pair of 

 spines above and below them. Snout 

 quadrilateral, longer than remaining 

 part of head ; a pair of lateral spines 

 and two ventral cutaneous filaments 

 in middle of snout. Operculum 

 vaulted, with a convex keel, ascen- 

 ding hindwards and upwards and 

 furnished in its basal half with a 

 strong curved spine. Three strong 

 spines before base of pectorals. Long, 

 more or less arborescent cutaneous 

 appendages at base of numerous 

 spines on the edges of trunk and 

 tail, also on occiput and orbit. Supe- 

 rior and inferior cristae of trunk 

 and tail discontinuous; median cris- 

 tae of trunk and inferior cristae of 

 tail continuous. Dorsal situated on 

 5 to 6 rings, its base is elevated and 

 its middle somewhat before anus. j.j^ ^^ Haliichthys taenicphorus 

 Anal small; pectorals broad. Eggs Gray. X I'/s- After the specimen 

 ., II • 1 . 1 • from New Guinea, which lacks 



numerous, rather small, isolated m ^^^ cutaneous appendages. 



