250 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Head snbcyliiidrical, entirely naked. A low cutaneous crest extends 

 from between the posterior portions of the eyes almost to the base of the 

 first dorsal spine. Rows of microscopic mncigerons papillte are present 

 on the snout, around the mouth, aci'oss the clieeks and ojiercles, and on 

 the shoulders. Open pores are present on the interorbital space, above 

 the jjosterior nostril, around the e3"e and preoperculum, and above the 

 operculum; these are arranged as shown in the accompanying illustra- 

 tion. Kye of modei-ate size, superolateral, and brf)ader than the interor- 

 bital space, which is flat. Snout obtuse, rounded, a little longer than the 

 eye. Anterior nostril in a short tube overhanging the lip, the postei'ior 

 a simple opening near the eye. Month very oblique, the maxilla extend- 

 ing backward to below the middle of the eye ; mandible projecting slightly 

 beyond the upper jaw, the chin i-ounded, without baibles. Premaxiilaiies 

 with an outer series of large conical teeth, which decrease in size 

 backwards, and an inner band of villiform teeth, which is broadest 

 anteriorly, and becomes narrower backwards; mandible with a strong 

 curved canine at each angle, between whicli are some enlai'ged teeth ; an 

 inner band of villiform teeth as in the premaxillaries. Tongue free, 

 thick, and rounded anteriorly. Gill-openings latei-al, much wider than 

 the isthmus. Exposed edge of the shoulder-girdle smooth, without papilhe ; 

 a pit at its lower angle. 



Body compressed, and covered with minute concentrically striated 

 cycloid scales, which are very ii-regnlarly ari-anged ; they become ctenoid 

 and increase slightly in size backwards ; they extend forward onlj' as far 

 as the shoulder, and leave the breast and tlie base of the pectoi-al naked. 

 Vertical series of minute mucigerous pores along the middle of the body 

 represent the lateral line. Genital papilla well developed. 



First dorsal originating over the anterior third of the pectorals ; the 

 spines ai-e tilanu'ntous, and increase in length to the third, which extends 

 backward to the base of the fourth ray when adpressed ; the sixth is 

 st'pai-ated fi-om the others by a wider interspace, and its membrane 

 rciiclies tlie base of the first ray. Rays of the second dorsal subequnl in 

 height, the hinder ones overlapping the base of the caudal ; the margin 

 of the fin is straight. Anal similar to.the second dorsal, its rays increasing 

 slightly in length backwards. Pectorals obtusely pointed, the median 

 rays longest, and reacliing beyond the vertical of the sixth dorsal spine; 

 no free upper rays. Venti-als inserted before the pecloi-als, with a deep 

 basal mejnbrane, aiid i-eacliing nearly two-thirds of their distance from 

 the vent. Caudal obtusely pointed. 



Cohnir-iiuuJ.iiKj. — Brown in alcohol, the head and bod}- closelyspotted 

 with darker spots, which become linear on the lower poi'tion of the 

 body. Antei'ior dorsal spines with blackish annuli, their produced portions 

 white; a large dark blotch on the membrane between the third and 

 fifth spines, and some ocelli on the basal half. Second dorsal dusky, with 

 about three irregular rows of dark light-edged ocelli. Anal with dusky 

 streaks between the rays, which are lighter. Caudal and ventml some- 

 what siniilar to the anal. Pectoml lighter, with about five transverse 

 lines of dots aci-oss the ravs. 



Described and figured from one of the cotypes, 90 mm. long. Nine 

 other cotypes, (j;{-l)2 mm. long, exliil)it hut little variation. 



