PISCES 253 
exceeds the orbit in length, the third spine is the longest, but 
does not extend as far as the fourth or fifth when depressed; 
its length is nearly twice that of the orbit: the two first spines 
stand on a slight eminence, the others in a depression: the base 
of the soft dorsal is one half longer than that of the first, and its 
fifth or longest ray is shorter than the second spine: the anal 
arises in advance, and terminates posterior to the soft dorsal and 
its corresponding rays are lower; the pectoral is very long, 
reaching to below the middle of the base of the second dorsal; 
of the three detached rays the upper one reaches to the base 
of the first anal ray, or to the tip of the ventral, which fin 
reaches the base of the first anal ray ; caudal fin deeply cleft with 
pointed lobes, the outer margins of which are quite straight, the 
peduncle is very low, its depth being one-half the diameter of 
the orbit, its thickness is but slightly less; the rays leave it at 
a very marked angle. 
Armour—tThe striz on the head plates arise from certain 
centres and extend radially, they are especially rugose on the 
upper plates; the occipital plate is deeply incised, the temporal 
spines forming its outer border; the flattened area whence the 
spinous dorsal arises bears eleven rugose plates, the first is large, 
erescentic with straight lateral sutures, extending across, in front 
of the first spine; the others become successively smaller, the 
last pair being at the base of the sixth spine. 
Scales.—Seales very small, deeply imbedded, lateral line well 
marked, anterior portion of body, below the dorsal plates and 
including the lower surface, naked. 
Colours——General colour pink, yellow above- and white 
beneath; bony plates ochreaceous; fins yellow. The whole of 
the upper half of the head and body with black spots of different 
sizes and irregularly arranged; similar spots on the dorsals and 
caudal fins, those on the upper edge of the caudal are elongate 
and form a margin; the inner side of the pectora! is brown with 
seven black bars, these show through to the outer side, but no 
markings are visible when the fin is closed, the only spots then 
seen are those on the first ray and some smaller ones at the base 
of the fin, the lowest ray is without colour or marks, a few spots 
on the detached rays: the outer surfaces of the first three rays 
bear three rows of large spots; the fin is broadly margined with 
white. 
Length.—294 mm. 
This species, represented by several specimens, was taken in 
the Bay of Plenty after I left the trawler, and was sent to me 
by Mr. Thomas Anderton, Curator of the Portobello Marine 
Fish Hatchery. aie ae aN 
G 
