AGRIOPUS SPINIFER.— Smith. 
Pisces. — Plate III. 
A dorse lateribusque superne rubro-brunneis, maculis, nebulisvc flavis marmoratis ; lateribus infeme, 
abdomineque argenteo-griseis purpureo-tinctis ; pinna dorsale macnlis tribus nigris notata ; pmms 
pectoralibus, ventralibus, analeque flavo-maculatis; aculeo uno ante oculum, et tribus versus angulum 
oris. 
Longitudo 12^ unc. 
Colour.— The head, the back, and the sides, till some distance beneath 
the lateral line, rich reddish brown, marbled with brownish yellow spots or 
nebula , which are disposed in irregular longitudinal rows, and are smallest 
and most numerous towards the dorsal fin. The lower portions of the sides 
and the belly are dull silvery-grey, with a purple gloss; the line of demarca- 
tion between the reddish-brown and silvery-grey is very distinct and waved. 
Dorsal fin close to the back light brownish yellow, the remainder dull brown ; 
on the anterior portion of the fin the lower edge of the latter colour appears 
somewhat scolloped, there being between every two rays an obtuse brown 
point almost reaching to the back. This fin besides is marked with several 
brownish black spots or stripes ; three are distinct spots, the first is between 
the first and second ray, and occupies more than the superior halt of the 
intermediate membrane ; the second is between the sixth and seventh ray, 
and the third between the seventh and eighth ; they are ot a somewhat 
circular form and situated near to the upper margin of the fin : the stripes 
occupy the upper edge of the last third of the spinous portion and the whole 
of the same part of the soft portion of the fin. The pectoral, ventral, anal, 
and caudal fins are yellowish brown, and the rays of the three first are barred 
with brownish yellow. 
Form, &c.— Typical. Figure rather more delicate than that of Agnopus 
torvus, nearly similar to that of Agriopus verrucosus, Bl. ; the form of the head 
also approaches to that of the latter species, and differs from A. torvus in the 
snout being directed rather more horizontally. Mouth small ; lips thick 
and fleshy°; teeth long, slender, numerous, and closely set. The frontal 
