76 Records of the S.A. Museum 



Type. Lophiiis laevis Lacepede. 



In distinguishing this genus from Bracliionlchthys. (iill rcHcd upon tlic par- 

 tial connection of the three dorsal spines and the soft jiortion hy membrane, as 

 described by Cuvier in his Chironcctcs itnipciniis (5). This character, however, 

 was not noted by Lacepede in his original definition and figure of the same 

 specimen ( Ti ) . and we therefore consider it reciuires \erification : if it is found 

 that a membrane is really present between the fins of .V. niiipciiiiis {S. laczis). 

 the aboN'e definition will not ajiply to SviiiptericlitliYS. 



SYMPTERICHTHYS VERRUCOSUS sp. nov. 



Plate vii. fig, 3. 



D. i. ii. 13-14: A,6: P,7-8: ¥,4: Cg, 



Depth 2 '2-2 -5 in the length to the hypural joint: head 3 'O in the same: eye 

 subequal to the length of the snout, which is 3 '6 in the head : first dorsal spine 

 I 4-1 '5. the second almost equal to the length of the head. 



Body comparatively long and compressed, the back elevated anteriorly : 

 mouth oblique, the maxillary reaching back to behind the vertical of the pupil ; 

 it is narrow posteriorly and hidden in a fold of skin : eye of moderate size, round : 

 nostrils sujjerolateral, 0])cning on each side of a low protruberance : skin smooth 

 in one specimen, raised into low tubercles in the other, which extend on to the 

 fins: teeth small, deijressible, almost villiform, forming a band of three or four 

 rows anteriorly in each jaw which becomes narrow laterally; palate and tongue 

 toothless, but covered with upstanding dermal papillae which resemble teeth. 



Fins. First dorsal spine wholly free, terminated by a l.)unch of foliaceous 

 appendages : second spine arising above the nostrils, and enveloped in a thick 

 membrane, which also encloses the third and extends backward to the nape : soft 

 dorsal formed of simple rays enclosed in ^, thick membrane; each ray readily 

 splits into two along its median longitudinal line in both specimens: anal 

 rays increasing in length to the penultimate; the membrane from the posterior 

 dorsal and anal rays united with the peduncle almost or quite to the vertical of 

 the hypural joint: caudal rounded, its inner rays bifurcate. Pectorals and 

 ventrals rounded, formed of thick, simple rays. 



Colour-iiiarkings. Brownish in alcohol, with lighter and darker areas: a 

 large whitish blotch above the gill-opening, and another below the anterior dorsal 

 ravs : indefinite brown markings on the head below the eye, on the anterior 

 portion of the back, and covering the abdomen: first dorsal with a dark basal 

 spot, and a larger one on its upper third: an oblique dark marking covers the 



(5) Cuvier, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat., iii., 1817. p. 435, pi. xviii. fi,^^ 3. 



(6) Lacepede. .^iin. Mus. Hist. Nat., i\-, 1S04. pp. ^02. 210. pi. 1\-. fig. 4. 



