92 ] 
RECORDS OF W.A. MUSEUM. 
greater than the length of the head without the opercular flap. 
Eye 4^-5, snout 3, caudal peduncle 2J in the head. Interorbital 
width I5 in the snout. 
Body moderately elongate, compressed, covered with large 
scales which extend forwards on to the nape, and on to the bases of 
ihe dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Two oblique rows of small scales 
from behind the eye to the cheek, and other larger and irregular 
ones covering the operculum ; head otherwise naked. Preorbital 
either a little broader than or narrower than the eye. A pair of 
strong canines in front of each jaw, those of the upper being widely 
separated; sides with a single series of smaller canine-like teeth 
decreasing in size backward, and usually a second inner series of 
very small ones anteriorly. Posterior canines present, sometimes 
double. Nostrils placed close together near the supero-anterior 
angle of the eye ; the anterior tubular, posterior slit-like. Lateral 
line following the curve of the back over 19-20 scales, then bending 
downward two rows to the middle of the caudal peduncle ; anteriorly 
the tubes are much branched, simpler posteriorly. 
Dorsal fin originating over the hinder half of the operculum. 
Spines low, each topped by a prolongation of the membrane ; rays 
subequal, soft portion of the fin angular posteriorly. Anal similar 
to the dorsal. Caudal truncate, the tips usually a little produced. 
Upper rays of pectoral longest, the lower half of the fin rounded. 
Ventrals pointed, not reaching to the vent. 
Colour. — Red, darker aliove, each scale with a large carmine 
spot. A yellow band extends from above the base of of the pec- 
toral to the middle of the caudal peduncle. Dorsal black basally, 
then clear orange, and margined with a narrow violet line. Anal 
blood red with a broad violet edge, and with or without indications 
of a darker median band. Caudal orange with a darker edge. 
Pectorals and ventrals pink, the former with a black basal band. 
After long preservation almost all traces of the colour markings 
disappear, leaving only the darker fin markings. 
Described from six specimens, i6o-2oomm. long, one of which 
is from near Albany, another from Mandurah, and four from 
Fremantle. 1 am indebted to Mr. Abjornssen for beautifully pre- 
served examples of this species from which the accompanying figure 
has been prepared. 
