121 



straight spine, and of five rays ; the pectoral is long, falci- 

 form, and formed of twenty-two rays ; it extends to nearly the 

 amis. 



The general colour is of a blueish grey, with a copper tinge on 

 the sides ; the lower parts of the body are of a blueish white ; 

 the upper part of the bead is of a copper-coloured brown ; there 

 is a broad purplish spot on the bach, just behind the head ; in 

 this part the scales have a black margin ; this spot extends 

 laterally to the point of the operculum. ; the lips are pink, as 

 are also the root of the pieces of the operculum ; the dorsal and 

 caudal are rather obscure, with yellow tinge ; the anal a little 

 lighter colour ; the ventrals of a rosy white ; the pectorals are 

 obscure, with their rays yellow; eye silvery. In some specimens 

 the sides of the body are covered with very minute dark dots. 



This fish is common on the Melbourne Market, particularly in 

 the cold months of the year ; it is used for food, and its average 

 size is from 8 to 10 inches long ; but I have one which measures 

 23 inches, and which only differs from the others by the absence 

 of the sulcated line below the lateral one. The small spines of 

 the operculum and pr?eoperculum are worn out. 



On the living specimens the body seems entirely covered with 

 small tubercles, formed by the scales being very irregularly dis- 

 posed. On the young ones the muscular fluxes are well marked 

 on the sides of the body ; the dark spot on the posterior part of 

 the head is barely visible. 



XIPHIIDiE. 



" Body elongate, compressed, naked, or covered 

 with rudimentary dermal productions. Teeth none, 

 or rudimentary. The upper jaw (ethmoid, vomer, 

 and intermaxillaries,) much produced, sword shaped. 

 One or two dorsal fins, without a distinctly spinous 

 portion. Ventrals absent, or rudimentary and 

 thoracic. Seven branchiostegals ; pseudobranchise 

 and air-bladder present. Pyloric appendages in 

 great number. 



