85 



prseorbital with a very feeble and blunt one ; the upper spine of the 

 praeoperculuin longer than the second. The lateral line runs 

 over about eighty- two scales, and the number of the transverse 

 lines is about one hundred and twenty. The dorsal is formed of 

 one small, isolated spine and of eight long ones, united by a large 

 membrane ; the second dorsal and anal have fourteen rays ; the 

 caudal thirteen long ones and several shorter ones on each side ; 

 the pectorals are nearly as long as the ventrals, and are formed 

 of eighteen rays. The teeth are very numerous, and all villiform 

 on both jaws ; those of the vomer and palatines larger. 



The general colour of the upper parts is a dark olive brown ; 

 the lower parts being white and silvery ; on the sides of the 

 body are numerous, round, brown and yellow spots. The lower 

 parts of the head are of a reddish orange. Fins translucid, 

 of a rather olive colour, with the spines and rays marbled with 

 brown and orange ; anal rather rosy, with a brown spot on each 

 ray ; the pectorals and ventrals are yellow, with transverse lines 

 of round crimson spots. The colorus of this species seem 

 subject to considerable variations ; the very large specimens are 

 often covered with large, elongate, marmorated blotches. 



This sort is very common on the Melbourne Market, particu- 

 larly in the cold months of the year. Its usual size is about 18 

 inches, but it sometimes attains nearly twice that size. 



PLATYCEPHALTTS PEOXIMUS. 



This sort is so very nearly allied to L&vigatus, in form and 

 general aspect, as to have made me hesitate a considerable time 

 before I separated it specifically. It differs from it by its head 

 being considerably broader on its anterior part, and being, in 

 front of the eyes, equal to a line drawn from the centre of the 

 upper jaw to the posterior edge of the orbit, when in L&vigatus 

 such a line would only attain two-thirds of the orbit. The 

 eye is much larger and more oval, being nearly round in 

 Loevigatus. The teeth are more numerous and finer ; those of 

 the vomer all equal, and similar to a fine brush. The first dorsal 

 is formed of one small free spine, and of only seven longer ones. 



The colour is also rather different, being of a light purplish 

 blue, with the lips and the sides of the head rosy ; the lower 

 parts of the body are white, with some irregularly formed 



