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back at about one-fourth of the height of the body ; this line is 
very sinuous ; it begins at the upper angle of the operculum, 
curves itself towards the back, presents several sinuosities, and 
extends towards the tail, but curls downwards before it reaches 
the root of the caudal ; it is formed of a series of small ridges. 
The dorsal fin begins by three short and isolated spines, which 
go on increasing in length ; the fourth spine is very long, com- 
pressed, and strong ; it ends in a filiform appendice, which makes 
it as long as the body of the fish is high ; its membrane is very 
narrow till a short distance from the body, where it extends to 
the following spine ; this (the fifth) has the same form as the 
precedent, but its filament is not so long ; its membrane extends 
to the following spine, at a greater height than the one of 
the fourth. These are followed by two more spines (making 
in all seven), which are shorter than the others, and the last 
has no filamentary appendice. The other part of the fin, 
composed of seventeen soft rays, is intimately connected with 
the other, and not sensibly higher ; the rays go on decreasing 
insensibly in height to the end. The caudal is large, slightly 
emarginated ; it is formed of seventeen long rays and of three 
shorter ones on each side ; these are in a great part covered with 
scales. The anal has one very small spine and one very large 
one, the latter being about eight times the length of the other, 
and very broad ; the soft rays are nine in number, the two first 
being a little longer than the second spine, and the others 
decreasing to the last. The ventrals have a very large, com- 
pressed, arched spine, having the form of a broad sword, and 
being two-thirds as long as the head, the first of the five soft rays 
is still a little longer than this spine. Pectorals rather large, of 
eighteen rays, the first not more than one-half the length of the 
second ; the total length of the fin is equal to the one of the ven- 
tral. All the spines are strongly striated. 
The general colour of the fish is of a dirty green, with the 
head and the anterior part of the back tinged with purple ; the 
fins are of the latter colour, with the spines pink ; the caudal is 
posteriorly bordered with green ; eye brown. 
I have only seen one specimen of this fish ; it was brought to 
the Melbourne Market in November, 1871, from "Western Port, 
and the fishmongers said it was the first time they had seen it. 
Total length, 25 inches. 
