1889. ] NEW TO THE AUSTRALIAN FAUNA. 155 
Dr. Bleeker having described his species from a single specimen, a 
redescription taken from two perfect examples is interesting; a 
comparison of the two diagnoses, however, reveals but slight 
differences, such as the larger number of pectoral rays in my 
specimens, a slight variation in the comparative measurements, and 
fewer scales on the lateral line’. Dr. Bleeker’s type, which came 
from Amboyna, was of rather smaller size than those here described, 
which measure respectively five and a half and five and two thirds 
inches. For the possession of these specimens the Australian 
Museum is indebted to the liberality of Lieut. Roche, late of H.M.S. 
‘Opal,’ who obtained them on the Great Barrier Reef off the north- 
eastern coast of Australia. 
ScorP2£na cookt, Giinth. 
B. vii. D. 12/9. A. 3/5. V.1/5. P.6/11% C. 13. 
L. 1. 62-65. 
The length of the head is from twice and two thirds to twice and 
four fifths in the total length, the height of the body from three and 
three fifths to four times in the same. The eye is of moderate size, 
and is placed high up on the side of the head ; its diameter is from 
two ninths to one fifth of the length of the head, from five sixths to 
two thirds of that of the snout, and from five eighths to one half of 
a diameter apart. The interorbital space is deeply concave, and is 
furnished with a median ridge, which springs from two roots on the 
posterior margin of the swelling caused by the intermaxillary 
processes, and ends opposite to the anterior third of the eye, from 
which point two low lateral ridges run backwards, and bending 
towards each other after leaving the interorbital fossa, meet in an 
acute angle on the posterior third of the occiput, and are there lost 
without terminating in a spine; there is a naked shallow groove 
below the eye. The cleft of the mouth is large and but little 
oblique, and the lower jaw protrudes slightly beyond the upper ; the 
maxilla reaches to the vertical from the hinder margin of the eye, 
and even beyond it in large examples. The opercle is armed with 
two long and moderately strong spines of equal size: there are five 
spines on the preopercle, the uppermost of which is much the 
longest and strongest, while the two lower are short and blunt. 
The outer edge of the preorbital bears several spinate points which 
radiate from a common centre, and is usually provided with two 
tentacles; there is also a strong turbinal spine, as well as one 
anterior and two posterior spines on the supraorbital ridge, which is 
either with or without tentacles, these when present being sometimes 
1 The difference in the number of scales between the spinous dorsal and the 
lateral line is caused by Dr. Bleecker having counted those beneath the middle 
of the fin, while I, adhering to my usual practice, have counted the oblique row 
from the base of the anterior spine. 
2 In one of my specimens there are ten dorsal and six anal rays, while the 
pectoral fins have on one side five branched and twelve simple rays, that on 
the other side adhering to the normal number ; this example has also excep- 
tionally long orbital tentacles, but differs in nowise else from the other examples. 
