EDIBLE FISDES OF QUEENSLAND.— OGILBY. 
63 
of the ventral being strongly convex and blinitly cnltriform between the isthmus 
and the anal fin; width of body 2-8 to 3 in its depth, which is 2-33 to 2-5^ in its 
length and three fifths to tliree fourths more than the length of the head; 
al)dominal region short, its length 1-65 to 1-8 in that of the anal; caudal peduncle 
very slender, considerably deeper than wide, its width 2-25 to 2-5 in the eye- 
diameter. Head small, its upper prolile moderately acclivous, evenly convex in 
small examples, liecoming linear with increasing age, its lengtli 3-95 to 4-1 in that 
of the body, its width 1-7 to 1*85 in its depth, which is subeciual to its length; 
cranio-nuchal keel inconsi)i('uous. Snout short and blunt, its length 1-33 to 1*45 
in the eye-diameter, wliich is 2-8 to 2*!)5 in the length of the head; adipose lid 
narrow in front, moderately developed l)ut not reaching the pupil behind; 
interorbital region low and gently convex, its width f-15 to 1-25 in the eye- 
diameter. 4aws sube(]ual in small examples, the lower prominent in the larger; 
maxillary extending to below the anterior border of the pupil, its length 2-4 to 
2-45 in that of the head, the width of its convex distal extremity 1-8 to 2-1 times 
its distance from the eye and 2-15 to 2*25 in the eye-diameter. Preopercular 
border entire. 
Jaws with a single series of small conical teeth ; similar teeth in a triangular 
patch on the head of the vomer, in a narrow band on tlie palatines, and in a 
broader band on the tongue. 
Entire body except tlie niudial ridge covered with rather large conspicuous 
scales ; cheeks and temples scaly, the rest of the head naked ; preopercle crossed 
by numerous simple or bifid mucous canals; nuchal canal conspicuous and 
pinnated, extending to the procumbent spine. Lateral line forming a short and 
rather high curve to below the 4th or 5th dorsal ray, the length of the curved 
section 1*8 to 1*95 in that of the straight, which is armed throughout with 41 to 
45 wide keeled scales, the widest 1*1 to 1-25 in the eye-diameter. 
Dorsai fin with viii, i 25 or 26 rays*'*; spinous dorsal moderate, originating 
behind tin* pectoral-base, procumbent H\nue small and concealed; spines weak 
and flexible, the 3rd longest. 2-15 to 2-25 in the length of the head. Soft dorsal 
originating one fourtli nearer to the tip of the snout than to the root of the 
caudal, the anterior six rays graduated and but little produced, the 1st longest, 
about two fiftlis longer than the 3rd spine, 6-25 to 6-6 in the body-length, and 
extending when d(‘press(xl to the 9th ray; last ray not produced. Caudal fin 
deeply and rather widely forked, the upper lobe the longer, its length 3-4 to 3-67 
in that of the body. Anal fin with ii, i 21 or 22 rays, originating below the 4th 
dorsal ray"; free si)ines well developed, the 2nd much the longer, 1*3 to 1-5 m 
the eye-diameter and 1-9 to 2-1 in the 1st ray, which is 2 to 2-1 in the length of 
the head. Pectoral with 21 rays, its length 3-45 to 3-15 in that of the body and 
from one fifth to two sevenths more than the length of the head; 5th ray longest, 
® Writing of 43 examples McCulloch says — ‘‘they vary greatly in depth, two specimens 
of equal size being 2.4 and 2.8 in length.’^ 
^ As has been remarked elsewhere there is a tendency among Australian specimens 
towards an increase in the number of dorsal and anal rays. 
‘In Uay^s figure the soft dorsal and anal originate opposite one another. 
