92 ] 
RECORDS OF IV. A. MUSEUM. 
greater than the length of the head without the opercular flap. 
Eye 4^-5, snout 3, caudal peduncle 2 \ in the head. Interorbital 
width 1^ in the snout. 
Body moderately elongate, compressed, covered with large 
scales which extend forwards on to the nape, and on to the bases of 
1 he 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 above, 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-20omm. long, one of which 
is from near Albany, another from Mandurah, and four from 
Fremantle. I am indebted to Mr. A. Abjornssen for beautifully pre- 
served examples of this species from which the accompanying figure 
has been prepared. 
