FISHES. -MCCULLOCH. 



69 



Two very young specimens have the bones of the head more 

 strong]}- ribbed than in the larger examples, and they bear 

 some prominent flattened spines on the occiput and above the 

 eyes. Smaller spines are found on the lower end of the pre- 

 orbital and on the suprascapular, and the angle and adjacent 

 borders of the preoperculum are armed with strong teeth. 



The dorsal fin may originate over the preoperculum or as 

 far back as the extremity of the operculum. The spines vary 

 greatly in length and are either short and thick or long and 

 slender. When laid back the longest rays may reach to just 

 beyond the base of the caudal or as far again. The third anal 

 spine is either longer or shorter than the second, and the soft 



