J?0 BLACK-MOUTHED DOGFISH. 



suddenly bent opposite the origin of the eaudal fin. Colour 

 light brown on the head and along the back; on each side 

 two rows • of ocellated spots — one row beginning at the side 

 of the neck and continued along the side of the back; the second 

 row commencing "behind the eye and passing along the upper 

 side of the belly, becoming obsolete near the ventral fins. 

 The rows are separated by numerous irregular spots, which 

 however, assume somewhat of a straight direction; the fins 

 and hinder part of the back are finely barred and clouded 

 with various tints of brown and yellow; the mouth dark- 

 coloured within. 



This example was a male, and was ornamented with lively 

 colours; but since then I have obtained one in which the 

 colour was so diluted as to appear almost of a uniform grey; 

 although on close inspection the usual markings could be dis- 

 cerned. It was also a male, and its pale colour may be explained 

 by its emaciated condition, for it appeared as if in a state of 

 starvation. The length was a little beyond two feet, which 

 therefore I suppose to be the ordinary size, but the caudal 

 portion of the body behind the second dorsal fin appeared 

 longer than in the former example. 



