64 MEMOISS OF THE QVEENSLANn MUSEUM. 



that of the head. Diameter of eye 1/25 in the lengtli of the snout and 4-67 

 iu that of the head. Pi'eorbital narrow, its width 2-17 in the eye-diameter. 

 luterorbital region moderate and convex, its width equal to or a little more than 

 the eye-diameter. Nostrils approximate, the posterior somewhat the larger and 

 situated directly in front of the eye, the anterior on a higher level. Lower jaw 

 slightly projecting; cleft of mouth oblique, rising to the level of the middle of the 

 eye. Maxillary extending to below the middle of the eye, its length 2-5 in that 

 of the head, the width of its obliquely truncated distal extremity about four 

 sevenths of the eye-diameter. Vertical limb and angle of preopercle with a few 

 weak and widely separated denticles, that on the angle being the largest ; hinder 

 limb subvertical ; operele with two feeble points. 



Both jaws with a row of short stout subulate teeth, beliind which in the 

 premaxillaries is a narrow band of villiform teeth; these are not present in the 

 mandible ; a long curved canine on eacli side of the symphysis in the upper jaw, 

 and a single median and somewliat stronger one in front of the lower. 



Scales cycloid, in 72 to 75 series above the lateral line, in 8/1/19 below tlie 

 spinous dorsal ; head almost entirely scaly, the scales varying greatly iu size, the 

 largest being on the middle anterior area of the opercles and along the infero- 

 posterior borders of tlie eye. One or two series of minute scales along the bases 

 of the soft dorsal and anal, the interradial membranes naked ; basal half of caitdal 

 fin scaly. Lateral line foi-ming a gentle curve to above the origin of the anal, 

 thence straight and extending to the end of the caudal fin, the tube-bearing body- 

 scales 50 to 52, the tubes profusely arl)orescent along the posterior two thirds of 

 the body. Snout with a pair of inconspicuous pores, situated above the bases of 

 the canine teeth ; chin apparently poreless. 



Doisal fins with x or xi, i 29 rays, the first originating above the ventral- 

 base, the last s])ine united to but barely half so long as that of the soft dorsal; 

 spines slender and flexible, the fii'st short, the fourth the longest, 2-16 in the 

 length of the liead and 1-38 in its base, which is 2-14 in that of the second dorsal, 

 the rays of whicli increase slightly in length to about the eighteenth, which is 1-37 

 in till' fourth sjiine and one third of the length of the head ; length of its base 2-5 

 in that of the body; last ray divided nearly to the base. C'audal fin cuneiform, 

 the lower median i-ays the longest, 544 in the body-length. Anal with ii 7 rays, 

 originating below the thirteenth dorsal ray ; spines weak, the first excessively 

 small, the second about half the length of the second ray, which is the longest, 

 2-57 in the length of the head ; base of anal 5-43 iji that of the second dorsal. 

 Pectoral pointed, with 16 rays, the sixth the longest, 1-44 in the length of the 

 head, and extending to below the tenth doi-sal spine. Ventral inserted a little 

 behind tiir |)cctoral-t);isc, and about one eighth shorter than that fin, the first ray 

 the longest, not extending midway to the vent. 



Gill-rakers 3 + 10, the longest two fifths of the eye-diameter and five 

 sevenths of the longest fringes. Air-bladder rather small, with 25 to 32 fringed 

 appendages on either side. Six pyloric caeca. 



