222 KECOKDS Of TIIK AUSll.'AI.lAX ML'SKl'M. 



Snout rounded, the profile acclivous. Interorbital region grooved. 

 Jaws equal, the maxillary e.xtending to below the antei'ior third of the eye. 

 Cheek-scales well developed, about half as large as those of the body ; 

 they are arranged in three series consisting respectively of 1, 2, 2 rows, 

 which are separated from one another by two horizontal mucigerous 

 grooves. Scales of the operculum and occii)ut but little smaller than those 

 of the body. A large median open pore between the anterior boi'deis of 

 the eyes. Jaws with narrow bands of villiform teeth, the outer prema.x- 

 illary series enlarged and conical : mandible with a modei-ately strong 

 curved canine at each outer angle, between which the outer series is 

 enlarged ; beyond the canines the villiform baud extends to the corner of 

 tlie mouth without enlarged teetli. 



JJody moderately robust, the dorsal contour evenly rounded from the 

 frontal region to the caudal peduncle, and much more arched than the 

 ventral. Caudal peduncle short and stout. Scales ctenoid ; predorsal 

 scales in eleven series, extending forward to between the posterior borders 

 of the pupils. 



Fii*8t dorsal 6u originating above the pectoral base, the spines slender 

 and flexible; the second is the longest, reaching well beyond tlie first ray 

 when adpressed, and one-fifth longer than the liead. Margin of the second 

 dorsal sti-aight, the rays gradually increasing in length to tlie last, which, 

 with the penultimate, is somewhat produced and foi^ms an acute angle 

 which overlaps the caudal-base; its lengtli is one-fourth less than that of 

 the second spine. Anal commencing slightly behind the vertical of the 

 first dorsal ray ; the penultimate i-ay is longest, and a little longer than 

 the basal length of the tin. Pectoral obtusely pointed, the eighth ray 

 longest and extending to below tlie third dorsal ray, and a little longer 

 than the head. Ventrals inserted below the pectoral-base, and equal in 

 length to tive-sixths of its longest ray ; it reaches to the vent. 



dulour. — Bleached after long exposure to the light. According to 

 l)e Vis, this specimen was brown in colour, with the abdomen paler, and 

 there wei'e traces of narrow vertical bands. The first dorsal had two 

 longitudinal rows of brown spots, and the pectorals and ventrals were 

 dark brown. 



The above description is based principally upon the holotype of 

 Gohins ciDiroIiir, De Vis, which is 87 mm. long from the snout to the base 

 of the caudal i-ays. It is preserved in the Queensland Museum, but is 

 iiadly mutilated, the soft dorsal, caudal, and anal fins having been broken 

 off short. De Vis described the upper pectoi-al rays as detached and silky, 

 but this is incoiTect. 



Si/noHiimij. — An example I2;i mm. long, labelled as (iohins puiituin/, 

 fi-om the Andaman Islands, which was one of Ur. Day's collection, is pre- 

 served in tlie Australian Museum. Another, the holotype of (./. niuruli- 

 jiiinn'x, Macleay, is also in the Australian Museum collection, and does not 

 differ from the Indian specimen ; Maclea}' counted seven spines in the 

 first doinal fin, but there are only six. 



We regard Goln'uK puiit<niij, lileeker and (i. piintdugoideii, Bleeker, as 

 synonymous. There are some discrepancies in the various accounts of the 

 two species, but they do not appear to call for much attention. In his 



