82 



PENT ABO GE MABHOEATA. 



Apistus marmoratus, Guv. Sf Val., v. iv., p. 416 ; Guv., B. 

 An. lllustre, pi. 24, fig, 3. 



Height three and one-fourth times in total length ; breadth of 

 body three and one-quarter times of the same ; head three and 

 one-fifth in entire length. The dorsal has thirteen spines and 

 ten soft rays, but the last of the spines might be counted with the 

 soft part ; the third spine is the longest ; the anal has three 

 spines and six rays ; the caudal has twelve rays ; the pectoral 

 eleven. 



The colour is of a light olive on the upper and lateral parts, 

 and white on the lower ; the body is covered with large rnarmo- 

 rated purple blotches, between which are numerous punctiform 

 marks of the same colour ; the dorsal, caudal, and anal are of the 

 colour of the back, with similar spots ; there is a broad purple 

 band on the external part of the caudal and pectorals ; the ven- 

 trals are white. 



This sort is scarce at Melbourne. I have only seen three speci- 

 mens — one three inches long, and the largest about seven. The 

 eyes of the two smallest were purple, with an external series of 

 small spots ; the largest had its eyes yellow. 



The specimens described by Cuvier and Valenciennes had been 

 brought from Timor by the learned naturalist Peron ; but this 

 sort is found on all the western and southern shores of Australia. 



PLATYCEPHALUS. 



This is certainly a tropical form, though a few of the sorts 

 extend to the coasts of Japan. Numerous species are found in 

 Australia, and are known under the name of Flat Heads. They 

 are more common in the cold than in the warm season. 



PLATYCEPHALTTS EICHAEDSONI. 



Height of body nine times in total length ; breadth six times ; 

 head (to end of operculum) three and a-half times ; orbit 

 five times in the length of the head on the middle line, or 

 six times to the end of the operculum. Head very flat, very 

 broad, rounded in front, the transverse line before the eyes being 

 only one and a-half times in the length of head, taken in its 



