•Jl I RKCOUDS OK llli: AISIIJAI.IAN Mr.'-KI'.M. 



D. vi/i,10 ; A. i,9 ; P. 21. 28 scales alonj,' tlu- middle of the body, 

 and 8 between the anterior dorsal and anal rays. 



Depth of the body b'Xi in its length, and l-i in the liead. Head 

 'AS'S in the lengtli of the body, its width 1'63 in its length. Eye 367 in 

 tlie head, one-fifth longer than the snout, wliich is 45 in the head ; inter- 

 orbital space three-fifths of the eye-diameter. Caudal peduncle about 

 five-eighths longer than deep, its depth 85 in tlie body-length. Fourth 

 dorsal spine 177 in the head, pectoinl a trifle shorter than the head. 

 Caudal 2-57 in the body-lengtli. 



Head a little wider than (ieep, and wider than the body, its fronto- 

 occipital profile feebly rounded, that of the nape linear. Cheeks and 

 opercles coveied witli large cycloid scales. Clieeks witli three horizontal 

 series of mucigeious pores ; {)arietal groove with two open pores, tlie 

 anterior very large and elliptical, the posterior rounded; hinder limb of 

 preopercnlnrn with three open pores. Eye large, longitudinally elliptical ; 

 inteiorbital region moderate, concave. Snout short and blunt, with a 

 rounded and strongly acclivous profile. Jaws equal, the maxilla extending 

 to below the middle of the eye ; lower surface of the head with about 

 three pairs of shoit barbies inserted below the posterior half of the mouth. 

 Each jaw with a band of villiform teeth, the exterior row on the sides of 

 each prema.xillar}' being a little enlarged ; an outer row of strong, curved, 

 subulate teeth anteriorly in each jaw, the posterior larger, and subcanini- 

 form on each side of the mandible. Tongue with the tip free and rounded. 

 Gill-openings not continued forward below, separated by a wide isthmus; 

 exposed edge of shoulder-girdle entire. 



Body slender, compressed, the dorsal contoui- slightly more arched 

 than the ventral. It is covered with large ctenoid scales, which become 

 cycloid on the nape and breast. 



First dorsal oi'iginating well behind the pectoral base ; its spines are 

 low, and its outline i-ounded ; fourth spine longest, about as long as the 

 base of the fin and not reaching the second doi-sal when depressed. Outer 

 border of second dorsal linear, the rays gradually increasing in length to 

 the penultimate ; this is much longer than the last, once and a half as long 

 as the fourth spine, aiul thi-ee-fourths as long as the base of the fin. Anal 

 commencing below the second and terjnijiating below the ninth dorsal 

 ray ; the penultimate ray is longest, but shorter than tlmt of the dorsal, 

 1-3 in the basal length of the fin, which is 37 in the body-length. Pectoral 

 pointed, the middle rays longest, and extending to below the origin of the 

 second dorsal. Ventral inserted a little in advance of the jiectoral base, 

 three-fourths as long as the pectorals, and not reaching the vent. Caudal 

 long and pointed. 



Colour-marl: ill If. — Biown, darkest above. The fins are darker, and 

 the upper caudal rays have a laige elliptical blackish yellow-edged ocellus 

 near the base. 



Described from two examples, 108-120 mm. long, in the Queensland 

 Museum. 



