20 ON NEW OR INSUFFICIENTLY DESCRIBED FISHES 



of similar spines p.rranged transversely ; three supraorbital 

 spines, the last pair close together and well separated from 

 the first, followed by a similarly arranged temporal series 

 of three, the last above the base of the pectoral ; cheek- 

 spines not piercing the skin ; a few small opercular spines : 

 spines of body strong and fixed, those in front short, 

 quickly increasing in length backward the tip of the 

 appressed pectoral ; four spines in an irregular row behind 

 the temporal series ; a single greatly produced movable 

 spine behind the middle of the base of the pectoral, its 

 length equaling the interorbital width ; a similar but 

 somewhat shorter spine behind the lower angle of the 

 pectoral ; middle series of abdominal spines short and blunt ; 

 peduncle naked. Gill-opening much narrower than the 

 base of the pectoral. 



Vertical fins rounded, the length of the dorsal 2-20, 

 that of the anal, which is inserted behind the dorsal, 2-85 

 in their respective heights : caudal fin rounded, the 

 peduncle deeper than wide ; pectoral emarginate, the 

 width of its base equal to the eye-diameter. 



Dull violet or olive-green above, the tips of some of 

 the spines darker, below white ; sides with three usually 

 circular black spots, the first in front of the lower angle 

 of the gill-opening, with often a smaller spot above it ; 

 the second below or just behind the middle of the border 

 of the appressed pectoral, sometimes with a smaller spot 

 below and behind it ; the third midway between the origins 

 of the vertical fins ; all these spots surround the base of a 

 spine, and occasionally the third temporal spine is similarly 

 favored. Fins pale brown, the caudal with a darker tip. 



Total length 250 millim. 



Coast of Southern Queensland (Brisbane River and 

 Moreton Bay). 



Four examples, measuring from 130 to 250 millimeters 

 have been examined in the preparation of this article. 



This species, the common " Porcupine- Fish " of the 

 Moreton Bay Fishermen is easily distinguishable from all 

 the other Ghilomycieri not only by the size of the eyes,, 

 but especially by the two erectile dagger-like spines, which 

 protect the pectoral region on each side. 



Type in the collection of the A.F.A.Q., to which it 

 was presented by Mr. Charles Sigley ; Cat. No. 41. 



