FISHES.^MCCULLOCH. H 



three females and one male from seven and a half to eight 

 inches wide, which present considerable differences from 

 Giinther's figure, but, in view of their larger size and the fact 

 that thev come from deep water, 90 fathoms, only one to two' 

 hundred miles from Twofold Bay, I have no hesitation in 

 identifying them with this species. 



The most striking difference lies in the teeth which are 

 described as "with very small points, almost obtuse." This 

 description fits those of my female specimens which are 

 almost pavement-like with blunt points, but in the male they 

 are long and acute. The development of spines on the head 

 and body, pectorals and tail, is much greater in the larger 

 specimens, though less in the female than the male. None of 

 my specimens have quite the same outward form as the young 

 one figured, but this is variable in the different speci- 

 mens and does not afford a specific character. Finally, the 

 dark blotches shown in the figure are wanting in my four, 

 though the clusters of white spots are similarly distributed. 



The following description is drawn up from the four "En- 

 deavour" specimens: — 



Snout to anterior nostrils 3.3 in the head to the last gill-slit. 

 Interorbital space less than two-thirds of the eye, which is 4.7 

 in the head. Width of the mouth about 3.5 in the head. 



Disk very broad, its width greater than the length from the 

 tip of the snout to its hinder margin ; its anterior margin more 

 or less undulated, the border of the pectoral either forming an 

 unbroken line or distinct angle with the sides of the head ; 

 hinder margin rounded and somewhat angular posteriorly. 

 Snout with a small median papilla. The distance between the 

 outer borders of the eyes is greater than that between the 

 latter and the edge of the disk. Preoral length of the head 

 equal to the width between the outer edges of the spiracles. 

 Nasal lobes produced backwards and outwards, the space 

 between them less than half the preoral length. Inner margin 

 of the nostrils with two interior and one exterior lobe when 

 folded, all of which form a broad-mouthed tube when ex- 

 panded. Gill-slits decreasing in size backwards, much smaller 

 than the spiracle which is about half the length of the eye. 

 Teeth small, with expanded though not confluent bases in the 

 male, and long median points directed backwards. In the 

 female they are rounded, flattened and juxtaposed, the median 

 point being reduced to a small prominence only. 



Entire upper surface covered with minute prickles directed 

 backwards. There are two large curved spines before each 

 e>e and three or four behind them. One to three are present 

 on the mid-line behind the head, which may be surrounded by 



