McCULLOCH AND WAITE — FiSHES FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA 75 



Described and figured from a specimen 62 mm. long, which is selected as 

 the holotype : a second ( paraty])e ) of a])out the same size differs only in having its 

 white markings less definite though similarly disposed: a third example, only 

 jS mm. long, is similarly coloured, with the addition of some white markings 

 below the e}e and around the mouth ; the second and third dorsal spines are more 

 slender, and freer from the back: all differ greatly in general form from 

 //. boii(/aiirc'illi. not only in being nuich longer but also in having the second and 

 third dorsal spines lietter developed, and the tlorsal and anal fins almost free from 

 the caudal. 



Loc. .Stansbur}-. .St. \ incent (lulf, .South .\ustralia. 



HISTIOPHRYNE SCORTEA, var. INCONSTANS, var. nov. 



I'wenty-one specimens, 2'i-04 nim. long, appear to be structurallv similar to 

 the three described above, but differ greatly in their colour and markings: all 

 are light-coloured with more or less abundant whitish, irregular markings and 

 blackish spots ; darker marblings may or may not be present. The extent and 

 disjjosition of their markings are exceedingly variable, and are differently 

 arranged on the two sides of any one individual ; the first dorsal spine may have 

 a bunch of short tentacles at its tip in addition to the fleshy knob, and the second 

 dorsal has sometimes only fourteen rays : they are evidently only colour varia- 

 tions of H . scortca, which may be recognized under the varietal name inconstans. 



i^oc. St. \'incent Gulf : Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. 



Family BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE. 

 SYMPTERICHTHYS Gill. 



Symptcrichthys Gill, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i, 1879, p. 221-222. 



Skin withotit spines, but coverc-d with dermal tubercles: teeth small, cardi- 

 forni, depressil)le, arranged in se\eral series in each jaw anteriorly; palate and 

 tongue toothless : first dorsal spine a slender, naked rod, terminated by a bunch 

 of foliaceous appendages; it is quite free from the second and third, which are 

 imited by membrane and form a cristiform fin: second dorsal long, with 13-16 

 rays: anal opposite the end of the soft dorsal, with 6-9 rays; posterior rays of 

 the dorsal and anal united by membrane with the caudal peduncle : gill-opening 

 a small tubular pore above the posterior angle of the pseudobrachium : muciger- 

 ous system defined by rows of paired tubercles ; a series commences above the 

 eye and curves backward to the shoulder, and thence along the side of the body 

 above the median line ; another series extends backward from each side of the 

 mandibular symphysis towards the pseudobrachium ; others are present above 

 the maxillary, and on the cheek and oi)erculum. 



