PISCES 193 
than the eye; the mouth is moderate and oblique, it can be pro- 
tracted to twice the length of the snout; the maxilla is one-fifth 
longer than the eye; the jaws are equal; the mandible is one-half 
longer than the eye, and is produced into a spine below; the 
posterior nostril is a vertical slit close to the front edge of the 
orbit; the anterior nostril is in a tube directed forwards: gill 
openings moderately large, gills three and a half, a slit behind 
the last; gill-rakers small, fifteen on the first arch; pseudo- 
branchie present; edge of preopercle short and rounded. 
Body short, deep, elevated and compressed, forming, with the 
head, almost a rhombus, the upper posterior and lower anterior 
edges being the further apart; anterior profile straight, except 
where broken by the tumidity in front of the eyes: lower hinder 
profile from the anal spine upwards, nearly straight; lower edge 
of body broad and flat. 
Teeth—The teeth are minute and form a narrow band in 
each jaw: there is also a small patch on the vomer. 
Fins——The dorsal fin commences a little behind a point 
midway between the end of the snout and the root of the caudal 
peduncle; the spines are stout, the second, and _ longest, 
especially so; its length is one-fourth greater than the diameter 
of the eye, and when depressed reaches to the base of the sixth 
ray; with the exception of the first, which is short and equal to 
the seventh, or one-third the diameter of the eye, the spines are 
eraduated backwards, they are free for about one-third their 
length, but in the second the membrane extends but half way up: 
the rays are short anteriorly, and are graduated to about the 
eighteenth whence they become shorter, the longest is a little 
less than the diameter of the eye; they are simple as are also 
those of the anal and pectoral: the first anal spine is stout and 
dagger-like, and is one-half the diameter of the eye; the second 
is short and weak; the rays are similar to those of the dorsal 
but extend a little further back: the vertical fins lie in a broad 
and deep groove bounded by the spiny scales of the sheath: the 
pectorals are short and rounded, the seventh, or longest ray 
being three-fourths the diameter of the eye; the ventrals are 
widely separated and have a lateral aspect, they cannot be 
received into a groove, the spine is strong, one-sixth longer than 
the eye, and extends to the first anal ray; the rays are slightly 
longer; the caudal is truncate, and has two sharp spines at the 
base of the rays, above and below; the peduncle is slender, twice 
as long as deep. 
Scales—tThe scales are cycloid but rough, producing a harsh 
sensation to the touch; they are strongly adherent and the 
exposed portion is four times as deep as wide, the head is naked 
