488 



ornate, with broad blue bars between the rays, which are 

 united with an intramarginal loop of the same colour. 



Described from eight specimens, 143-200 mm. long. 



Loc. — Tasmania ; Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia. 



Aracana spilogaster, Richardson. 



var. spiNOSissiMA, n. var. 



PI. xxii. 



An example, 160 mm. long, differs from the typical form 



of A. spilogaster only in the excessive development of the 



spines of the carapace. There are two mediolateral spines on 



each side, though the posterior one of the left side is only 



rudimentary. The infralateral ridges are armed Vv^ith four 



spines; in addition to the normal two, there is one below 



the gill-opening and another smaller one below the hinder 



portion of the pectoral fin. 



We have no doubt that this is merely a variation of 

 A. spilogaster. 



Loc. — Tasmania. 



Aracana spilogaster, Richardson. 



var. ANGUSTA, n. var. 



PI. xxiii. 



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



Length of head, from the snout to the gill-opening, 3'4, 

 depth of body 1*7 in the length without the caudal fin. 

 Narrowest interorbital width almost equal to the orbital 

 diameter, which is 2' 7 in the head. Longest pectoral ray 1*4, 

 dorsal 1*3, anal 1*5, and caudal fni 1*1 in the head. 



Snout oblique, slightly convex. Literorbital space flat, 

 but the supraorbital margins are considerably elevated^ 

 making it appear concave. Back broad, almost flat. 

 Abdomen compressed into a keel, its profile evenly arched 

 from the snout to the caudal peduncle. Supraorbital spine 

 well developed, inclined strongly backward and outward. 

 Two supralateral spines on each side, and a strong medio- 

 lateral one situated slightly in advance of the verticle of the 

 posterior supralateral one. Three infralateral spines; the 

 anterior is the smallest and is placed below the anterior base 

 of the pectoral, and the second is a little behind the verticle 

 of the anterior supralateral spine. 



Carapace uniformly granular except around the gill- 

 opening, whence there is a naked space extending forward 

 to the snout. Saddle-shaped scutes are present behind the 

 dorsal and anal fins, and others form a nearly complete ring 

 around the base of the tail; small irregular scutes are also 



