•27-I KFXORDS OK THE AUSTRAMAX MUSEUM. 



Rjid arouml tlie preopercular border. Mucigerous canals covered bj thin 

 membrane follow tliese bony ridj^es, and are perforated along tlieir length 

 by open pores. Scales cover the cheeks and opercles, and all of the snout 

 posterior to the hinder nostril ; they are small on the anterior half of the 

 head, larger on tlie opercles, and bear many minnte scalelets on their 

 basal portions. Orbit bieakiiig the upper profile of the head, the eye 

 small and lateral. Interorbital space flat, and scaly to tlie orbital margins, 

 the scales being subdivided intd three series by the bony crests. Snout 

 depressed, somewhat sharply I'ounded. Nostrils about midway between 

 the e3'e and the end of the snout, the anterior in a low tube. Mouth a 

 little oblique, the maxilla extending back to about the vertical of the 

 anterior border of the eye. Mandible projecting beyond the up{)er jaw. 

 Each jaw with a band of villiform teeth, which is broadest anteriorly and 

 narrows liackwards; the posterior rows are slightly larger than the 

 anterior ones, and there is an outer row of slightly enlai-ged conical teeth. 

 Tongue free, bi-oadly spatulate. Gill-oytenings veiy wide, extending 

 forward to below the middle of the e3'e, tlie membranes united across the 

 isthmus; the latter about as wide as the e3'e. Exposed edge of shoulder- 

 girdle smooth. 



Body subcylindiicfil anteriorly, compressed posteriorly. It is closely 

 covered with large angular ctenoid scales of almost uniform size, which 

 also cover the breast and base of the pectorals. At the base of each are 

 two or tliree small scalelets. Genital papilla well developed. 



First dorsal originating above the anterior third of the pectoial, 

 rounded ; the second spine is longest, about as long as the snout, and the 

 membrane from the last does not nearly reach the second dorsal. The 

 maigin of the secoiul dorsal is stiaight, the second ray longest, and the 

 others decreasing slightly backwai'ds. Anal originating below the third 

 dorsal ray, and teriiiinatiiig behind the last; its rays increase in length 

 backwards. Pectoral rounded, the middle rays reaching the vertical of 

 the first doi'sal ray. Ventrals inserted below the hinder half of the 

 operculum, and reaching about two-thirds of their distance from the vent. 

 Caudal broadly rounded. 



Colour-vmrliiiuj. — Light brown in alcohol, vai'iegated with darker cross- 

 bars, disposed in abf)ut live paiis; dai-ker lines extend along the sei'ies of 

 scales, and scattered blackish dots are present on the head and body. A 

 broad dark streak extends across the snout to the eye, and is continued 

 backwards across the preoperculum. Anterior dorsal marbled with 

 l)lackish-brown on a liglitei- ground colour, and a broad light margin. 

 Se(!ond dorsal with oblique rows of dark dots on the rays. Anal dark, 

 with a whitish border; some large white dark-edged ocelli between the 

 rays. Lower portion of the caudal similar to the anal, a bioad f)ortion of 

 the upper half and a naiiow lowoi- margin white. Ventials vaiiegated 

 with brown anil white, and having a hioad white margin. Pectorals light 

 coloured, with a stiiking qiiadrangula!' blackish blotch on a light ground 

 colour at the base of the rays. 



Described and figured fi-om a specimen 133 mm. long Eight others 

 95-lt53 mm. long, arc similar in all details, varying only in the degree of 

 the development of the colour-marking. 



