FISH. 157 



Habitat, King George's Sound. 



I have scarcely any doubt of this being the A. maculosus described by Dr. 

 Richardson, in his recently published notes on a collection of fishes from Van 

 Diemen's Land. Mr. Darwin's specimen, which is in bad condition, was obtained 

 by him in King George's Sound. 



2. Aleuteres velutinus. Jen. 

 A. pallide fuscescens,fasciis quatuor obscurioribus, longitudinalibus, indistinctis ; 

 pinnis pallide aurantiis : corpore oblongo-ovali elongato ; cute delicate Jiispidd, 

 scabrd : rostra producto, apice obtuso : spina dorsali aculeis lateralibus dejlexis, 

 uniseriatis : pinnis dorsali secundd et anali multum ante caudalem desinentibus. 

 D. 2—33 ; A. 31 ; C. 12 ; P. 13 vel 14. 



Long. unc. 8. 



• 

 Form.— Elongated, approaching to oblong-oval, the tail rather slender. Greatest depth exactly 



one-fourth of the entire length, and equalling the length of the head, this last being measured 

 to the upper angle of the oblique branchial orifice. Back slightly arched, the curvature rather 

 exceeding that of the belly. Profile in front of the dorsal spine falling very gradually, and not 

 much out of the rectilineal. Snout considerably produced, but blunt at the extremity. Mouth 

 small ; jaws equal ; teeth strong, and very sharp. Eyes round, placed exactly above the bran- 

 chial orifice. The grains on the skin are coarser than in the A. maculosus, and the bristles 

 springing from them longer and more developed, especially on the posterior part of the body, 

 communicating a harsher feel to the touch : these bristles are slightly hooked at their extremi- 

 ties, the tips being turned towards the tail. 



Dorsal spine strong, situate above the posterior part of the orbit, with only two prin- 

 cipal rows of prickles, one on each of the two lateral edges ; anteriorly granulated at bottom, 

 with a few rudimentary prickles towards the apex, but posteriorly almost quite smooth. Second 

 spine very minute. The distance from the first spine to the commencement of the second dorsal fin 

 equals twice the length of that spine. The anal commences under the fifth dorsal ray, and ends 

 nearly in a line with the termination of that fin, but extends a trifle further. Both fins fall 

 short of the caudal by a considerable space. Pectorals rather small. The caudal is worn at 

 the end, but appears to have been either square or slightly rounded. 



Colour. — " Very pale brown : fins pale orange." — D. 



A. second specimen is smaller than the above, measuring six inches and three-quarters in 

 length. It is exactly similar in respect to form, and general colour; but the sides are marked 

 with four tolerably distinct longitudinal bands, extending from the branchial orifice to the 

 caudal, rather darker than the ground on which they are traced. There is very little indica- 

 tion of these bands in the first specimen. 

 Habitat, King George's Sound. 



This species was taken by Mr. Darwin in King George's Sound, and appears 



to be new. It has some points of resemblance with the Balistes Ayraud of Quoy 



