487 



•enlarged tubercles. The eye is very large, and the nostrils 

 are prominent and tubular. The fins are similar to 

 those of larger specimens, but their rays are either simple or 

 bifurcate. 



As the fish grows the striations on the scutes become less 

 pronounced, and give way to scattered granules. The en- 

 larged tubercles become more spiniform, and the general form 

 and proportions alter to those of the adult. The dark stripes 

 on the carapace and tail are few in number and widely spaced 

 in the smallest specimens, but in others 47 mm. long, they 

 do not differ from those of the adult .4. aurita. 



hoc. — Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia; Western Port, 

 Victoria. 



Aracana spilogaster, Richardson. 



Ostracion (Aracana) spilogaster, Richardson : Proc. Zool. 

 'Soc., 1840, p. 27, and Trans. Zool. See, iii., 1849, p. 163, pi. x., 

 fig. 1; Bleeker : Verh. Akad. Amstrdm., ii., 1855, p. 27. 



D. 10-11; A. 10-11; P. 1 + 10; C. 11. 



Length of head 3" 3, depth of body 1*5 -1*7 in the 

 length without the caudal fin. Narrowest interorbital width 

 2'2-2"4 in the head, almost equal to the orbital diameter, 

 which is 2'4 in the head. Longest pectoral ray 1*5, dorsal 

 1'5, and median caudal rays 1'3 in the head. 



Snout oblique. Interorbital space flat, but the supra- 

 orbital ridges are elevated, making it appear concave. Back 

 almcst flat anteriorly, sometimes obscurely keeled posteriorly. 

 Gill-cpening behind tlie verticle of the hinder orbital margin. 

 Supraorbital spine inclined backward, and more or less out- 

 ward. Two supralateral spines on each side; a mediolateral 

 spine is placed below or a little in advance of the verticle 

 of the posterior supralateral one. Two infralateral spines, 

 which are sometimes but little developed; the anterior is below 

 the interspace of the supralaterals, and well behind the base 

 of the pectoral fin. 



Carapace covered with small rounded granules, which 

 are usually more numerous on the lighter parts than on the 

 dark (blue) lines and spots ; this character is particularly 

 marked on the sides of the snout. A large saddle-shaped 

 scute is present behind the dorsal and anal fins, and others 

 form a more or less complete ring around the base cf the 

 tail ; numerous irregular smaller scutes are scattered over the 

 sides of the caudal peduncle. 



Colour. — Carapace and tail with numerous broad and 

 more or less sinuous light-blue stripes, which are generally 

 iDroken up into rounded spots on the sides ; abdomen with a 

 network of blue lines enclosing golden spots. Caudal fin 



