232 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ML'SEUM. 



to below tlie middle of the eye ; jaws equal. An outer row of enlarged 

 stout teeth in • the premaxillaries, followed b}' a band of smaller ones 

 Avhich is broadest anteriorly but narrows latei-all)' ; a broader patch on 

 the anterior half of the mandible, the outer teeth being lai-gest, though 

 thei-e are a few enlarged ones about the middle of the sides ; they foi-m a 

 single row on the sides. Tongue broad and notched anteriorly, only the 

 tip free. (Jill openings wider than the interspace separating them ; 

 exposed edge of the shoulder-girdle smooth. 



Body compressed, covered with rather large ctenoid .scales, which 

 extend forward almost to the eyes on the nape, and cover the breast ; 

 they are rudimentary on the base of the pectoral. They increase in size 

 towards the tail, and each scale of the median row has a vertical series 

 of mucigerous pores on the hinder half of the body. Genital papilla 

 large. 



First doi'sal commencing well behind the base of tlie pectoral ; the 

 five anterior spines are subequal in length, and the membrane from the 

 last almost touches the base of the lirst ray. Dorsal rays increasing 

 slightly in length backwards, the last forming a pointed lobe which ovei-laps 

 the base of the caudal fin. Anal similar to the second dorsal. Pectoral 

 rounded, reaching the vei'tical of the anterior dorsal i-ays ; the three 

 upper rays are bifid and filamentous, silk-like. Venti-als inserted below 

 the pectoi'al base, lai-ge and completely united, not quite reaching the 

 vent. Caudal broadly I'ounded. 



Colonr-)ii((rl,iin/. — liack light-coloured, with six bi'oad dark saddle- 

 shaped cross-bands which expand and become confluent on the sides. The 

 tiist crosses the nape, the second is largely anterior to the dorsal fin, the 

 tliird is behind the fifth spine, the fourth behind the third ray, the fifth 

 behind the third last ray, and the sixth near the base of the tail. Below 

 the middle of the sieves they form dark blotches which are largely alternate 

 to those of the back. Most of the scales, particularly of the lower lateral 

 portions, bear a round light ocellus. Cheeks and base of pectoral with 

 numerous light spots ; a dark spot behind the eye. First doi'sal dusky, 

 with darker inaikin<rs, and a broad whitish border. Second doi'sal dusky 

 with lighter and darker s])ots on the rays, and a narrow blackisli margin. 

 Caudal with dai'k spots on the rays on the upper half, its lower portions 

 and tlie anal somewhat dnsk\'. Ventrals blackish, pectorals dusky. 



Described and figuivd from a specimen SO mm. long, from Darnley 

 Island, Torres Strait; the details of the light spots of the head and body 

 are supplemented f i om those of another example. It appears to be quite 

 similar to an Indian example identified by I)i-. Day as I,', nlhupiinrtittnu. 



\ anntiitii. — The light spots which, when present, foi-m such a striking 

 feature of this species, appear to be developed onl}' in larger examples, and 

 are often lost in presei-vation ; they are rarely retained in examples ]»re- 

 served in formalin, but some in alcohol exhibit them very clearly. Tlie 

 dark saddle-like cross-bands and the lateral blotches are usually much 

 more jtronounced in young examples than in adults, and they appear as 

 illusti-.ited ill the figure of .1/. poerilichtliij,^, Jordan & Snyder. 



