34 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



anterior margin of the orbit. A band of sharp velutine teeth in each jaw broadest above | a 

 double semicircular patch of similar teeth on the front of the vomer, and a band all alono- each 

 palatine as broad as that in the lower jaw. Branchial arches and pharyngeans rough with 

 similar teeth. Tongue free, thin, flat, truncated at the apex with a double emargination in the 

 middle, of equal breadth throughout, without teeth, the central portion cartilaginous with a 

 broad membranous border all round. Eyes large, their diameter one-sixth the length of the 

 head, approximating, with not half a diameter between, distant two diameters from the 

 extremity of the lower jaw. The spines of the preopercle (which in some species are long and 

 very unequal) very short and inconspicuous, of equal length, the lower one rounded off almost 

 to nothing. Head smooth all over ; presenting the usual ridges, which however are not very 

 salient, but with hardly anything deserving the name of spines, excepting only a small flat 

 spine terminating the opercle, and a minute but sharp one on the upper ridge of the scapula : 

 none at the anterior angle of the first suborbital, or on the ridge of the orbit. Gill opening 

 very large ; the branchial membrane notched underneath for its whole length. 



Pectorals broad and oval but short, contained nearly eight times in the entire length ; the 

 first two rays simple, the next ten branched, the last seven, which are rather stout, again simple. 

 Ventrals separate by nearly the whole breadth of the body, attached beneath the middle of the 

 pectorals, longer than these last fins by nearly one-third, and reaching very nearly but not quite 

 to the vent, which is a little posterior to the middle of the entire length : the spine of the ventrals 

 is one-third of the longest of the articulated rays which are the last or innermost. The first 

 dorsal commences above the middle of the pectorals, and occupies between one-sixth and one- 

 seventh of the entire length ; its greatest height is about two-thirds of its own length ; the first 

 spine is very short, and detached, as in the other species ; the second a little shorter than the 

 third which is longest ; the rest gradually decrease to the last, which is one-third the length of 

 the second ; this fin therefore is not so triangular as in many of this genus. A small space 

 between the first and second dorsals. This last longer and rather lower than the former, con- 

 tained four and a half times in the entire length ; all the rays nearly even, with the exception of 

 the first only, which is a little shorter than the second. Caudal square. The anal answers 

 to the second dorsal, but begins, as well as terminates, a little backwarder. 



The lateral line commences at the suprascapular, and gradually bends down till it reaches 

 the middle of the depth which it keeps for the remainder of its course ; it is perfectly smooth 

 throughout. The scales cover all the body and a part of the head, but are not present between 

 the eyes, or on the front of the snout, or on the jaws. They are small, oblong-oval, finely 

 striated, with a fan of eleven or twelve deeper strise posteriorly, their free edges cut square, not 

 ciliated. 

 Colour. — (In spirits.) — Back and sides nearly uniform deep brown; beneath white; the two 

 colours separated by a well-defined line. First dorsal transparent, with a deep brown stain or 

 blotch on the membrane, of an irregular form, and occupying more than the posterior half of 

 the fin. Second dorsal uniformly, but rather obscurely, spotted throughout. Caudal with 

 transverse rows of similar spots. Anal nearly uniform pale dusky, the spots hardly distin- 

 guishable from the ground. Ventrals the same. Pectorals with spots on the rays, but with 

 the intervening membrane nearly transparent. 



Habitat, King George's Sound, New Holland. 



