OF AUSTRALIA. 147 
length of the body ; the same taken a little backwards, at the 
two corresponding depressions, is only two-thirds that length ; 
the eye is nearly as long as the muzzle. 
The dorsal spine is slender, arched, pointed, covered with 
short spinous bristles and inserted over the posterior third of 
the eye. The imperfect state of the specimen does not allow 
me to state if there is a second ray or a membrane to this fin ; 
the second dorsal has twenty-seven or twenty-eight rays ; the 
caudal is about as long as the head to the base of the dorsal 
spine, and has fifteen rays ; the anal has the same number of 
rays as the second dorsal ; the pectorals are small, formed of 
ten rays ; the body is entirely covered with very short spines, 
which become longer and more slender on the tail. 
^ The colour is entirely brown, with the fins yellow ; the 
single specimen is two and a-half inches long. 
MONACANTHUS PENICILLIGERUS. 
Balistes Penicilligerus, Peron in Guv. RZgn. Anim., vol. 
iii., p. 433, pi. 10, fig. 2, vol. ii. 
This most remarkable fish is entirely covered with short 
spines, and has on its body and fins long filaments ; it forms 
the genus Ghcetodermis of Bleeker. It seems to inhabit all the 
northern and eastern seas of Australia, and extends to Eastern 
India. 
The specimen from Freemantle is near nine inches long. 
Nota.— The filaments in Cuvier's figure are represented 
much longer than they are in my specimen. 
DIODON SPINOSISSIMUS. 
Similar to the Victorian specimens. 
ARACANA AURITA. 
Ostracion Auritus, Mich., Trans. Zool. Soc vol iii 
p. 184, pi. 9. > •> 
According to Mr. Bostock's description, the colours are very 
splendid on the fresh specimens ; the upper parts are of a 
fine yellowish brown, changing on the head and sides to a 
beautiful pink-red ; the lower parts are of a pale brick colour ; 
