45 



DESCRIPTIOE" OF TWO EAEE TASMANIA^ FISHES. 

 By E. M. Johnston, F.L.S. 



Genus Htstiophoeus. 



Body rather compressed and elongate ; the upper jaw much 

 produced, conical, extending far over the lower. Two dorsals, 

 the anterior of which are much longer than the posterior, and 

 formed by spinous and soft rays. Ventrals to a single or two 

 or three spines. Scales, none sometimes rudimentary dermal 

 productions. Small teeth in the jaws and on the palatine 

 bones, none on the vomer. Seven branchiostegals ; air 

 bladder present. Pyloric appendages exceedingly numerous. 

 (Gunther). 



Histiophorus Herscliellii, Gray. 



D. 42/7, A. 12/6, Y. 1. 



The greater portion of the dorsal fin much lower than the 

 body. The height of the body is more than one-half the 

 length of the head and ono-seventh of the total. The upper 

 jaw is rather depressed, rounded superiorly and inferiorly; 

 its length from the nostrils is nearly three-quarters the length 

 of the head. Dermal productions, numerous bifurcate hidden 

 in the shin. 



A fine specimen, 13ft. 6in. total length, was recently 

 discovered by me stranded and half buried in the sand bank 

 communicating with a large lagoon, immediately to the north 

 of Cape Fredrick Henrick on Forestier Peninsula. It 

 answers in all characteristic points to the above species so far 

 as could be observed. Unfortunately it was much decomposed' 

 internally, and the ventral and anterior portions of anal fin 

 were destroyed. The anterior part of spinous dorsal was 

 elevated into a crest composed of about 11 spines, curving 

 between the occipiit and a line passing through posterior of 

 praeoperculum ; somewhat truncated at its point of junction 

 with the rest of dorsal spines, which were uniformly only 

 about 2in. high to junction with soft rays near peduncle, 

 which are slightly higher than the posterior portion of spinous 

 dorsal rays. The longest rays of first dorsal were about 12 

 to 14 inches. The soft anal is developed similarly to the 

 soft dorsal, each composed of seven rays. The characters 

 and dimensions as observed were: — 



Feet. Inches. 



Length of head to extremity of upper jaw ... 4 



Breadth of expanse of tail forks ... ... 4 4 



To greatest depth about ... ... 2 



D. 11-31/7, A. -17, V. P. 14 falcate. 



Dermal productions, bifurcate or lozenge shaped; skin 

 thick hard and bony. 



