112 " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



the abdominal surface are alternate to those above, and from the 

 throat to the vent is a broad silvery space in which the ventrals 

 are inserted. 



The type specimen was washed ashore at Maroubra Bay in a 

 perfect though dying condition. Our example was taken in the 

 trawl fi'om a depth of 50-66 fathoms, when mud and abattoir 

 refuse was brought to the surface. 



Family URANOSCOPID^. 



ICHTHYSCOPUS, Swainson. 



ICHTHYSCOPUS INERMIS, Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



Stargazer. 



Uranoscopus inermis, Cuv. & Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii., 1829, 

 p. 310, pi. Ixv. Temm. & Schleg., Fauna Japon., Pisces, 

 1850, p. 27, pi. X. A. 



Idiihysco'pu» inermis, Day, Fishes of India, 1878, p. 261, pi. Iv,, 

 fig. 5. 



Stations 8, 10, 23, 26, 28, 33, 49. 



Although without doubt of this species the specimens differ 

 from those previously described in minor particulars, all the 

 supports of the dorsal fin, with the exception of the first two, are 

 articulated as determined by means of a hand lens ; the fii'st 

 four are simple, the remainder divided. 



White round or oval spots on the body and fins are entirely 

 absent, the ornamentation taking the form of three broad bands, 

 one on the soft part of the preopercle, the second behind the 

 operculum embracing the four anterior dorsal rays and the whole 

 of the pectoral, and the third below the 12-17 dorsal rays ; none 

 of these bands reach the ventral surface. The example below 

 referred to as from Newcastle exhibits these bands very distinctly, 

 but it is noteworthy that the white markings are also present. 



It is now first recorded from Australian waters, but an example 

 was obtained by Mr. Whitelegge at Newcastle some years ago, off 

 which port we secured the greater number; once only, and then a 

 single specimen, was it taken south of Port Jackson (Station 49), 

 but it is rather remarkable that it was there trawled at the depth 

 of 63-75 fathoms. At none of the other stations was a greater 

 depth than 28 fathoms recorded. A large example, measuring 

 25 inches in length, contained a Sillago ciliata, 14 inches long: 

 the capture of such a lively fish indicates how admirably the 

 sluggish Ichlhyscopns must assimilate its surroundings. 



