PENTACEROS RICHARDSONI. 
lies in front of the caudal fin. Head compressed and conical ; lower jaw 
longest ; gape small and each jaw has a broad band of short criniform 
teeth. Nostrils double, the hindermost the largest, and both situated rather 
nearer to the eye than the nose. Eyes large. Head rather more than one- 
fourth of the total length of the fish, being in a specimen measuring 21 
inches. The surface of the head between the preoperculum and subor- 
bital plates consists of rather small somewhat circular scales, elsewhere 
of strong bony plates externally radiated with granular striae. Shoulder 
plates radiated in the same manner, the uppermost very coarsely. The under 
surface of the body in front of ventral fins is flat and formed somewhat like 
the thorax of an Oslracion : behind these fins to anus keeled, and both these 
parts together with the edge of back between hind head and origin of dorsal 
fin covered with hard tubercular or subangular plates, placed side by side like 
stones in a pavement ; the other parts of the body are covered with scales simi- 
lar to what are found on fishes generally, only they are rather small, as com- 
pared with the size of the specimen. Lateral line commences immediately 
over the second scapular plate, ascends, forming an arch, towards the dorsal fin 
and on its reaching a point, under the fifth ray, it proceeds parallel with the 
base of the dorsal fin till near the last spinous ray, where it begins to descend 
obliquely till it reaches about midway between the termination of the anal 
and dorsal fins : from thence it proceeds in a straight line to the caudal fin. 
Dorsal fin very strong anteriorly; the spinous rays very robust, and all 
longitudinally striated; the fourth, fifth, and sixth rays the longest,— the 
first much the shortest : the soft portion of dorsal fin very short, and not 
higher than the lowest portion of the spinous part. Pectoral fin, pointed, the 
first ray spinous, but short and slender ; the fifth ray the longest. Ventral 
fins small, and the first or spinous ray very large and longitudinally striated. 
Anal fin with the spinous rays strong, the second the longest, and all striated; 
the cartilaginous rays shorter than the spinous. Caudal fin posteriorly 
straight, or the outer rays of each side in the slightest possible degree 
longer than the middle ones. 
D. ; P. ; V, y; A. C. 16. 
Length of individual described, 21 inches. 
The only specimen of this Fish I have seen, was procured near to Cape Point, and was taken 
by means of a hook in very deep water. 
