REPORT ON THE SHORE FISHES. 41 



on the occiput, to anotlier above the prseoperculum, to two small ones on the prseorbital, 

 four on the margin of the prseoperculum, and two on the operculum. The bands of 

 teeth are very narrow, those on the vomer and palatine bones almost linear. Dorsal 

 spines rather slender, the third and fourth are the longest, one-third of the length of the 

 head. Anal spines feeble. Pectoral fin extending to the middle of the anal. Ventral 

 fin thoracic, terminating at some distance from the vent. 



Coloration, uniform reddish, with some obscure spots on the base of the second 

 dorsal and caudal. Ki Islands. Length of specimen, 4^ inches. Station 192 ; 129 

 fathoms. 



Pterois lunulata, Sclileg., Arafura Sea. 



Minous pictus, u. sp. (PL XVIII. fig. D). 



D. i^-ii, A. 12. The length of the head is two-fifths of the total length, -n-ithout 

 caudal, and equal to the length of the pectoral fin. Preeorbital, with a rather strong- 

 spine, obliquely directed downwards and backwards, and with another small one in front. 

 Interorbital space concave, equal in width to the vertical diameter of the eye. Dorsal 

 spines slender ; the three anterior a little remote from the remainder of the fin. Back 

 and dorsal fin largely marbled with blackish-brown and white ; lower parts and caudal 

 whitish. Pectoral ventral and anal black ; the posterior surface of the pectoral whitish, 

 with a black stripe along each ray. Length of specimens, 2 to 2-^ inches. Arafura Sea. 

 Station 188. (South of New Guinea.) 



Platycephalus insidiator, Forsk., Somerset. 



Platycephalus malaharicus, C. V., Arafura Sea. Station 188 ; 28 fathoms. 



Platycephalus isacanthus, C. V., South of New Guinea. Station 187. 



Platycephalus sculptus, n. sp. (PL XVII. fig. A). 



D. 9/11, A. 12, L. lat. 70 Length of the head is one-third of the total (without 

 caudal), and its width between the prasopercular spines is contained once and one-thii'd 

 in its length. Interorbital space very narrow and concave, its width being one-half of 

 the vertical diameter of the eye, or one-fourth of the length of the snout. Snout rather 

 obtuse. Bones of the head deeply sculptured with radiating strife. A series of spines 

 along the superciliary margin, along the ridges of the crown of the head, along the oper- 

 cular ridge, and along the infraorbital ring. Angle of the prajoperculum armed with 

 two spines, of which the upper is much longer than the lower, thougli not quite so louo- 

 as the eye, and armed at the upper part of its base with a small accessory spine. Anterior 

 half of the lateral line spiny. The tliird and fourtli dorsiil spines ai-e tlic Inngest, one- 

 half of the length of the lioad. A tongue-shaped membranaceous flap below the praj- 



(ZOOU CHAI.L. EXr. — PAIiT VI. — 1880.) F G 



