14 STUDIES IN THE ICHTHYOLOGY OB' QUEENSLAND 



that of the head. Upper preopercular spine not so long as the 

 second preorbital spine. Gill-rakers 4-4-9, all tubercular. 

 Third dorsal spine the highest, conspicuously higher than the 

 second or fourth, 11 to 1^ in the length of the head, and thrice 

 the height of the first spine : last spine higher than tlie penulti- 

 mate ; outer border of soft dorsal rounded, the highest ray about 

 equaling the fifth spine. Anal fin originating below the four- 

 teenth or fifteenth dorsal spine, its second spine as high as the 

 seventh or eighth dorsal spine, half or a little more than half 

 the length of the head, and as high as or a little lower than the 

 soft portion of the iin, the outer border of which is subtruncate. 

 Caudal fin with 10 branched rays, the middle pair the longest, 

 3j} to 3^ in the total length. Pectoral fin not reaching beyond 

 the ventral,* its length thrice the width of its base and equal to 

 the length of the head. Ventral fin rounded, 11 to IJ in the 

 head, extending to or slightly beyond the vent, its spine as long 

 as the second anal spine. Pale yellowish or ochraceous brown, 

 with six irregular tranverse dark chestnut-brown or black bands ; 

 the first through the eyes ; the second below the anterior dorsal 

 spines and often reduced to an oblong blotch ; the third below the 

 sixth to ninth spines and ceasing beneath the appressed pectoral 

 fin ; the fourth below the anterior soft rays, sometimes ceasing 

 at or near the lateral line, sometimes extending to or even upon 

 the anal fin ; both this and the preceding band may extend well 

 on the dorsal fin, and both have a tendency to lateral expansion 

 about the middle of the side ; the fifth across the base, the sixth 

 across the middle of the caudal fin ; a dusky spot is also usually 

 present below the eleventh to thirteenth dorsal spines ; outer 

 border of spinous dorsal usually more or less dusky ; soft portion 

 with an oblique dark med'an bar, which is often reduced to a 

 spot near its anterior border ; pectoral fins with or without a 

 dark median transverse hand and sometimes with narrow 

 parallel bars also ; a dark blotch absent or present at the base 

 of the ventral fins. Examples obtained from muddy ground 

 have the body more or less clouded so that the ground color 

 scarcely appears, and in these the basal half of the pectorals and 

 the ventrals are dark. (Lat. australisi, southern. ) 



* In no case, out of scores of examples which have passed through my 

 hands, have I found the pectoral fins to reach back to the "origin of 

 the anal," as stated by Giinthev and Macleay. 



fThe specific name " australis." is frequently but erroneously used to 

 signify "Australian"; it is almost needless to say that it does nothing 

 of the kind, its sole meaning being neither more nor less than " southern " : 



