85 
praeorbital with a very feeble and blunt one ; the upper spine of the 
praeoperculum 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. Tins 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 colours 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, hut it sometimes attains nearly twice that size. 
PLATTCEPHAIiUS PEOXIMtJS. 
This sort is so very nearly allied to Lwvigatus, 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 Lobvigatus 
such a line would only attain two-thirds of the orbit. The 
eye is much larger and more oval, being nearly round in 
Lcevigatus. 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 tlie body are white, with some irregularly formed 
