52 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



This species is not uncommon in pools on the coral reefs of Lord Howe- 

 Island and Queensland. 



Family LUTIANID^. 



Genus LUTIANUS, Bloch. 



LUTIANUS SUPERBUS, Castelnau. 

 (Plate XVII.) 



Diacopus superbus, Castelnau, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, ii., 1878, p. 228. 

 Mesoprion superbus, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, v., 1881, p. 331. 



D. X.13; A. III.8; P. 17; V. 1.5; C. 17. L. lat. 46 to the hypural joint.. 

 Depth before the ventral fins, 2.9 in the length to the hypural joint; head, 

 including the opercular flap, 2.8 in the same. Snout 3.1, eye 6.1, caudal peduncle 

 2.1 in the head. Pectoral 1.4, third dorsal spine 2.6 in the head. 



Profile from the snout to the first dorsal spine convex, the upper line of 

 the head almost straight. Upper portion of head naked, a few large scales 

 extending obliquely backward on either side of the nape. Cheek scales in seven 

 rows. Maxillary reaching back to below the anterior portion of the eye. 

 Preopercular notch large and open, the posterior margin finely serrated, the 

 angle rounded and denticulated. Operculum unarmed, the posterior lobe 

 somewhat pointed. 



Upper jaw with three canines on either side of the symphysis, of which 

 the first is the smallest, and the second the longest. Behind these a row of 

 widely spaced canines extends along each side, and there is an inner band of 

 minute villiform teeth. Lower jaw with a similar row of larger canines, and a 

 very small band of villiform teeth anteriorly. Vomerine teeth forming a 

 triangular patch with a median posterior extension ; the lateral angles are also ■ 

 produced. Microscopic teeth are present on the palatines and tongue. 



Scales somewhat oblique above the lateral line, almost horizontal below 

 it. There are seven scales between it and the middle of the spinous dorsal, and 

 sixteen more to the median ventral line. The pore-bearing scales of the lateral 

 line are small and intercalated between the others. The bases of the dorsal, 

 anal, and caudal fins are scaly, the scales extending about halfway up between 

 the rays. 



Third and fourth dorsal spines longest, the last a little higher than the 

 penultimate one; the margin of the second dorsal is rounded, the median rays 

 being longest and but little shorter than the third spine. Anal spines strong, 

 the third the longest ; the fin is short and somewhat pointed, the third ray being 

 longest, longer than the dorsal spines. Pectoral falcate, not reaching back to the 

 level of the vent. Ventrals inserted well before the first dorsal spine, and a 

 little behind the pectorals. Caudal slightly emarginate. 



