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straight spine, and of five rays ; the pectoral is long, falci- 
form, and formed of twenty-two rays ; it extends to nearly the 
anus. 
The general colour is of a hlueish grey, with a copper tinge on 
the sides ; the lower parts of the body are of a hlueish white ; 
the upper part of the head is of a copper-coloured brown ; there 
is a broad purplish spot on the back, just behind the head ; in 
this part the scales have a black margin; this spot extends 
laterally to the point of the operculum. ; the lips are pink, as 
are also the root of the pieces of the operculum ; the dorsal and 
caudal are rather obscure, with yellow tinge ; the anal a little 
lighter colour ; the ventrals of a rosy white ; the pectorals are 
obscure, with their rays yellow ; eye silvery. In some specimens 
the sides of the body are covered with very minute dark dots. 
This fish is common on the Melbourne Market, particularly in 
the cold months of the year ; it is used for food, and its average 
size is from 8 to 10 inches long ; but I have one which measures 
23 inches, and which only differs from the others by the absence 
of the sulcated line below the lateral one. The small spines of 
the operculum and prseoperculum are worn out. 
On the living specimens the body seems entirely covered with 
small tubercles, formed by the scales being very irregularly dis- 
posed. On the young ones the muscular fiuxes are well marked 
on the sides of the body ; the dark spot on the posterior part of 
the head is barely visible. 
XIPHIIDiE. 
“ Body elongate, compressed, naked, or covered 
with rudimentary dermal productions. Teeth none, 
or rudimentary. The upper jaw (ethmoid, vomer, 
and intermaxillaries,) much produced, sword shaped. 
One or two dorsal fins, without a distinctly spinous 
portion. Ventrals absent, or rudimentary and 
thoracic. Seven branchiostegals ; pseudobranchise 
and air-bladder - present. Pyloric appendages in 
great number. 
